WE MUST SUPPORT OUR INDEPENDENT MEDIA
THEY ARE OUR INSTITUTIONS, TOO!!
via
iolmisha@cs.com
=======
SFBAYVIEW.COM
is online ! But the hard copy paper is gone... APPEAL FOR SUPPORT !!!
[Save the SF National Black Bayview Hard Copy !]
"In July 2001, hardly a month after my only child idriss Stelley
was executed by SFPD at the Sony Metreon, I knocked on the
Ratcliff's door on 3rd and Palou for the first time, to find out if
they would be willing to cover a story on my son.
Mary Ratcliff, in spite of dreadful deadlines to get her paper out,
opened her arms, sat with me, fed me, and let me tell her at
great length who Idriss really was.
Mary and her husband Willie, publisher of the SF Bayview, soon
allowed me to regularly publish law enforcement accountability
news in their paper to this very day.
Mary patiently helped me refine my writing and investigative
reporting skills, and tremendously contributed to my education
(a work still in progress...) on how the SF "liberal" and
"conservative" political chess game is played out...
They also generously hosted Idriss Stelley Action and Resource
Center on their property for five years, and allowed us to use
their fantastic backyard in the very Heart of beautiful
DOWNTOWN BAYVIEW (3rd &Palou !) to host a number of
Racial and Social Justice cookouts, press conferences and
poetry slams, attended by hundreds of our Sisters & Brothers at a time.
We do not always agree on political issues,
but I look up to Mary and Willie as some of my most powerful,
insightful Mentors and Elders, Movers and Shakers !
The saddest part of losing the hard copy edition of the SF
National Black Bayview Newspaper is that myriads of prisoners, nationwide, also tragically lose their lifeline to "penpals", hope, compassion, understanding, education & resources....
But WATCH IT NOW !
The Ratcliff may have lost a battle, but by far have not
lost...(not :"the War").. their mighty pursuit of.Justice and
Peace for us all on their Revolutionary Path! .
Now let's see how:
* the business community,
* the faith community,
* the National Community at large
* our Poor, Black & Brown Communitites,
* the thousands of folks who read the SF National Black Bayview
paper, delivered to their very door, every week, for
almost two
decades, FOR FREE,
will step up to the plate and show equal commitment and
solidarity to the Ratcliffs, RIGHT NOW.
Show your Love to these two Peace and Justice Giants
my People !
Willie and Mary Ratcliff always did, oblivious to their own quality
of life issues, working for you around the clock, still do...
I once asked Willie: "Hey Mr. Ratcliff, when are you going to retire?"
He laughed out loud, his head tilted back, and replied without
hesitation: "Well, NEVER ! Mary and I are in this for the
Revolution until we die !"
So, are WE gonna quit on the SF Bayview ?
In Unity &Respect,
meshá Mongé Irizarry, director,
* ISARC,
* Education Not Incarceration, SF Chapter, ENI_S
* Black&Brown Equitable Drug Policies Coalition, BEDPC
sfbayview.com
(415) 671-9789