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The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint
11
• Thursday, October 28, 2021
Broadway Heights
Photos: Darrel Wheeler
Commemorative Dedication
Voice & Viewpoint Staff
The event was a celebration of local leaders, but in a special way. The Broadway Heights Community, which has already honored the City of San Diego with its Martin Luther King, Jr. Neighborhood Promenade has added to that historic site the busts of several outstanding civic leaders, all but one of whom is deceased. With Mayor Todd Gloria, City Councilmember Monica Montgomer y, Super visor Fletcher, County District Attorney Summers, the Chief of Police and members of the Black Police Officers Association as well as former Supervisor Leon Williams, the Broadway Heights Community had full civic representation last Saturday for the unveiling of the busts of five outstanding leaders. For starters, everyone missed the presence of Mr. Robert “Robbie” Robinson, the
“Let me say this - and I mean it. I’m not
Representatives from various organizations were also at the church to answer questions and give advice on the back and forth trigger-pulling that causes so much pain and suffering in the community. Emotional healing and expression was definitely in full effect at GLBC.
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The conference was the perfect platform for the community to express our anger and frustration and seek some healing.
“I was really impressed by the whole program and the way Pastor Nate hooked it up. Especially the youth showing up today, because that’s the age group that needed to be here the most. They were definitely helped in packing the house,” said Greater Life Baptist Church servant, James Ray. “I also think there should be more of these types of outreach platforms. Today was very informative and a great opportunity for people to share their experiences,” he said.
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“I lost my son, Martell Charles Dean, on March 20th, 2021,” shared mother Cherie Hall. “I got the call at two in the morning. That was the call that would change my life and my family’s life forever. When I heard the phone ring, I knew something was wrong. I felt it through my spirit. Everything about that call was horrible, including the rudeness of the police department. I don’t wish that experience on anybody,” she recounted.
Tears were a big part of the healing process as they flowed freely at Greater Life Baptist Church.
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The event gave families of gun violence victims the opportunity to give heartfelt testimonials about their missed loved ones.
seeking revenge against my son’s perpetrators. God will handle it,” Hall said.
Indeed this was a great day and an even greater occasion.
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Pastor Nate Stewart organized the first Families Surviving Gun Violence community conference last Saturday, October 23. Greater Life Church on Darby Street was the place, 10 a.m. was the time, and families surviving gun violence was the topic of discussion.
And finally, Leon William’s bust was unveiled. Now in his 90’s he was there to personally witness this occasion. It is said, in short, that he is a man who has dedicated his life and considerable talents to the service of others and left his mark on the community in many different ways.
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By Darrel Wheeler Contributing Writer
The bust of Rulette Armstead is significant as she was the first African American Assistant Police Chief of San Diego. Ms. Armstead was a graduate of Lincoln High School, with Bachelor and Master’s Degrees from San Diego State University and a graduate of
the FBI National Academy, a Kenney Senior Fellow among executives at Harvard University and an Adjunct Professor for the Community College District, but always of and from the community.
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Gun Violence
Busts were unveiled for the following persons with family members present where possible. The very first bust unveiled was that of Robert “Robbie” and Barbara Robinson. It was fitting that the two would be together since they served the community as a team. The likeness was beautiful and the family was there as a part of the moment. He served on numerous boards and commissions. Roberto Alvarez made history in 1931 with his Landmark School Integration Suit against the Lemon Grove School District, which he won at the age of 12. The school district had tried to move Mexican-American students into a separate building at a Lemon Grove grammar school. A San Diego County Court ruled the children could not be separated, and this came 23 years before Brown vs. Board of Education. Mr. Alvarez died in 2003 at the age of 84.
The other local heroes unveiled were certainly well known personally because we remember living and working with them. There was the bust of Councilman George Stevens. He was an Associate Pastor at Mount Erie Baptist Church; a leader in the many battles to desegregate the city and County of San Diego in housing, employment and justice. Although he worked for a County Supervisor who later became a Congressman, it was George, the man, whom the community loved and respected more than the persons he worked for before being elected to the San Diego City Council where he served from 1991 until 2002. He died on October 15th, 2006.
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Families Surviving
Community Council President for a record 30 years. Mr. Robinson died the day before, as much as he tried to be there for this event.
