Activism

A Father’s Day to Remember: Peace between rivals on De Fremery Park’s basketball court

Father’s Day was a day of mutual understanding for the fathers and young men to put their differences to the side and play competitive basketball against one another, even though these various street formations aka “gangs,” or rivals, generally don’t get along. In other words, basketball brought peace on this special occasion for so many coming from different sectors of the city.

Published

3 years ago

June 26, 2023

Oakland Post

Richard Johnson interviews Shan Hirsch. Photo by RichardFitnessJones.

By Richard Johnson

Father’s Day proved to be quite rewarding this year in so many ways. The fathers that society has written off as a lost cause collective chose this Father’s Day to show unity, respect, and camaraderie, by showing that if a good idea can be conceived it can be done.

In other words, basketball brought peace on this special occasion for so many coming from different sectors of the city. These “peaceful” basketball games surprised the Oakland Police Department officers who attended for a while, but when it became apparent that peace would abound on this day at the West Oakland DeFremery Park, they left the scene.

At the end of the basketball game, there was a Fallen Fathers’ balloon released for all the deceased fathers.

Shan Hirsch, the founder and CEO of the non-profit Pennies for Peace (PFP), put this event together. She has been a stellar advocate and community organizer for over 20 years and has earned the love and respect of the communities with her work and devotion to helping bridge the gaps between warring factions.

PFP raises funds through small donations from individuals who share her vision of bringing peace to our streets. Even though she receives no government or foundation grants, she manages to stay afloat with sheer determination.

Hirsch’s next goal is to bring a boxing gym to the Bay Area. She has a son and a grandson who have taken up boxing as a sport.

Formerly Incarcerated Giving Back (FIGB) is also working with the African American Sports Entertainment Group (AASEG) to utilize youth-oriented sports activities as a healthy, constructive diversion from the lure of gangs.

As our city debates ways to stop violence, they should study PFP’s has an approach which emphasizes action over talk. If there’s to be peace you must go to the trenches and put the work in.

It’s not going to happen sitting back behind a desk in a comfort zone engaging in wishful thinking. The time for “politickring” is over, peace can only be gained when you go out and make it happen in a real way.

We can’t legislate peace; we must put in the work.