This year's theme is entitled, "Embracing and Enhancing our Community."
The branch recently announced that it will be honoring Corky Booze, as the first
recipient of what it plans as an annual Martin Luther King Jr. Peace and Freedom
award.
Given his history in Richmond, I cannot support honoring Mr. Booze as a peacemaker.
In fact, I think that many in Richmond know him to be a bully who makes regular
abusive verbal threats including at Council meetings. He has threatened to have
physical harm done to me and to others.
There are many people in Richmond deserving of recognition for making Richmond
a more peaceful and loving community. These include the Safe Return team,
the individuals who walk the streets of Richmond every Friday night as part
of the Ceasefire Team, the change agents of ONS, the police department that
has made tremendous strides in community policing, the pastors who daily negotiate
problems on the street, the organizations working to improve the lives of our
children, the folks who worked so hard to make sure that the realignment funds
were directed to development of reentry programs, and many more.
To honor these and others who have worked peacefully to improve Richmond would
truly honor Dr. King’s beliefs. To give the award to Mr. Booze
as part of a political campaign is a mockery of everything Dr. King stood for.
I will honor Dr. King by not condoning this mockery and I invite others who
believe in the true meaning of peace, to honor the people who have truly followed
in the footsteps of Dr. King.
Regards,
Jovanka Beckles
Councilmember, City of Richmond
BUS: 510-620-6568
FAX: 510-620-6824