Deep East Oakland Rising, a rally for Black lives, is set for Saturday, June 27 2020. The event will show the community how participation for social justice must be tempered by sound social distancing practices and wearing masks.

Sponsored by East Oakland Collective, Adamika Village, OCCUR, Black Cultural Zone, Higher Ground, The Town Experience, Town Biz Oakland, Oakland Pillars, and Roots Medical Clinic, the rally will begin at 11 a.m. with a blessing at the corner of 73rd Avenue and Foothill Boulevard at the Black Cultural Zone lot.

Starting at noon, the march will proceed down 73rd Avenue to International Boulevard to 98th Avenue and B Street to Wilkins Memorial Park.

From 2:00–4 p.m., attendees will participate in a Black Joy celebration with art, COVID-19 education, DJ, Bike Rodeo, giveaways, free catered meals, produce box giveaways, motorcycle and car clubs and more.

“We are still here! Mobbin’ daily to plan and design better neighborhoods and provide resources for our Deep East Oakland neighbors,” said Marquita Price, director of Urban and Regional Planning for East Oakland Collective. “For East Oakland Collective, this action is meant to make our community aware that to survive CODID-19 this virus must be respected and taken seriously.”

It’s important “to show East Oakland Black residents that we’re all in this together and to everyone else that Black East Oakland is still here and we’re not going out that easy,” Price said.

Masks are required for all attending and will be available upon request.

With COVID-19 looming over African American communities, social inequities in America can no longer be tolerated.  Oakland Front Line Healer Candice Elder and CEO of East Oakland Collective said “This is a march for everyone who can no longer be silent against racial injustices that plague our Black neighborhoods. This Saturday we will rise up and we’re inviting the community to join us.”

Oakland Frontline Healers recently sent a letter to the County Board of Supervisors by OFH representative and Roots Clinic Physician Noha Abolata regarding how Deep East Oakland will be impacted by the reopening of commerce, leisure and worship in Alameda County.

“It’s like we’re the guinea pigs regarding outcomes of this reopening,” said Daryle Allums of Adamika Village#stopkillingourkidsmovement.  “We know a surge is coming in July and August and we’re still trying to get the word out to our youngsters regarding the importance of social distancing and wearing a mask.  This reopening is a signal to them that it ain’t all that serious when it’s about to get more serious than anyone can imagine.”

Supervisor Wilma Chan responded saying, “During the past three weeks, the State has been messaging the need to reopen and has encouraged counties to file formal ‘attestations’ stating that they are ready to reopen at a rapid rate. Even Los Angeles, which is clearly a California epicenter of the epidemic, has filed an attestation. Meanwhile, seven health officers in counties with large outbreaks have been personally threatened and forced to resign.

“I am proud to say that Alameda County is one of the only counties that has not filed an attestation to reopen,” Chan said. “I personally believe, as you do, that a rapid re-opening will have a disproportionately large impact on Black, Latinx, Hmong and other communities of color who provide the workforce for the many businesses pushing to reopen. This along with years of health disparities puts our populations of color at an overall greater risk of illness and death from the virus.

Tanya Dennis

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