Daily Archives: December 2, 2018

Finally, a personal “victory” to share. As some of you know, WE were forced into homelessness over a year and a half ago by the Trump-supporting gentrificators Jessica Sawczuk, Eugene Gorelik, who refers to himself as “Mean Gene,” and their “Oakland Redevelopment Group LLC.” These gangsters purchased the building that our family resided in for over 20 years – and which had been my only residence in California since moving from Chicago in 1995 – and then proceeded to violate our rights and City and State laws.

Melvin Dickson was a writer, poet, author and organizer whose passing marked a sorrowful day for those who had the privilege to work alongside him. In order to give those community members their moment to reflect and honor our brother, a local community event was held Saturday, Nov. 17, to celebrate the life and legacy of Mr. Melvin Dickson. His recent passing this past October continues to be felt across the Black Panther Party community. Melvin Dickson was one of the longest active Party members, who then went on to found the Commemoration Committee for the Black Panther Party (CCBPP) in the early ‘90s.

When students at Malcolm X Academy returned to their elementary school in the Bayview in August to begin a new year, they came back to a changed environment. Over the summer, part of their school building had been taken over by KIPP Bayview Elementary, a charter school operated by Knowledge is Power Program, the largest charter network in the country and in San Francisco.