Request Idriss Stelley Memorial for Metreon Earth Day Event!

Thank you so much for your posting! Close to 50 organizations involved in Social Justice, ecology and politicians have sent their petitions to the Metreon, who maintains silence. We are therefore headed for a peaceful demonstration this coming Sat 4-24, noon to 4 P.M., by the front entrance of the Metreon on 4th and Mission. We will encourage our demonstrators to go in and visit the event (which we support, objecting only to its controversial location0, will make sure we do not interfere w/ the flow of visitors traffic.

Please do consider sending the petition:

"Earth Day" at the SF Sony Metreon?

On Saturday, April 24, from Noon to 4 P.M., The Sony Metreon will host a "EARTH DAY" event. While I honor the concept and celebration, I was alerted by community members about its controversial location: almost 3 years after the racist murder of my son Idriss "E" Stelley at the Metreon, we are yet to receive a public statement, condolences to our grieving families, or any kind of attempt to bring closure on this horrific occurrence. The management has ignored our calls and E-mails urging them to build an altar to Idriss for the event. We will hold a peaceful demonstration on Earth Day from noon to 4 P.M. by the front entrance of the Metreon. A number of social justice, ecological and educational organizations have signed and sent petitions to the Metreon Management. Please consider sending the following:
_____________________________________________________________________
From: __________________
To:amichalko [at] metreon.com, Manager
CC:Iolmisha [at] cs.com

Dear Alexandra Michalko,

Congratulations on offering Earth Day at the SF Sony Metreon on April 24, 2004 !

I might consider coming if the event includes a memorial to 22 yr. African American Idriss Stelley, victim of a racist murder by SFPD in your theater on 6-13-01. 48 bullets, 9 officers, while he stood in an empty theater, experiencing a mental crisis.

Earth day is a good day to show that practicing respect compassion and tolerance both for our planet and for each other could lead to a society where such tragic and useless occurrences as Idriss Stelley's' death there in the theater could be avoided. It would be thoughtful and generous of the Metreon to host a display that both memorializes Idriss and shows everything that has been going on since (expanded Police Mental Health Training, Prop H, new Police commission, Idriss Stelley Foundation.)

If not, I support the candlelight vigil in Idriss Stelley's memory that would take place by the front entrance of the Sony Metreon during the event.

Cordially,
______________________
Organization/Location________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Dear "JQP"

I hope your hateful stance won't get YOU in jail...You are in my prayers

(letter to Metreon Management, 4/19/04):

Dear Alexandra Michalko,

I received a call from my friend Kevyn Ebbs"Straight Outta Hunters Point" this morning, who had a conservation with someone from your management team about our peaceful demonstration scheduled Sat.24, noon to 4 P.M., by the front entrance of your establishment. He was told that "Earth Day" event at the Metreon is meant for kids, therefore our demonstration would be basically off bat. I want to remind you that we strongly support the event but continue to object to its location, since Idriss Stelley Foundation is yet to receive any constructive suggestions, or anything, from you. An Earth Day event geared toward small children at your location confirms our point: How do you plan to dispel the fear, mistrust and grief of parents about anything that relates to your facility? How do you foresee comprehensive intervention at the Metreon when it comes to at risk, troubled youth?

By now you have received endorsements and petitions from the following organizations, as well as a number of concerned community members statewide:



ACORN Bayview Hunters Point
Actor, Montrouge- FRANCE
ASAP, Substance use/HIV services
Assistant District Attorney
Bay Area United Against War
Blue Triangle Network
Caduceus Mental Health
CCI
Comite NO NOS VAMOS, Fresno
Convener Community First Coalition
Death Penalty Abolition Movement
Democratic Club, Police Commission Nomination Task Force 1
Department of Environment
Ella Baker Center, Bay Area Police Watch (3)
Education not Incarceration Coalition
Energy Programs Manager SF
Eyeheart Studio, Anti War Organizer
Foundations For Our Nu Alkebulan/Afrikan Millennium,Oakland, CAL
Green Party,
Greenwood Earth Alliance
Happs Magazine, San Jose, CA.
Idriss Stelley Foundation staff (2)
Immigrant Voice
LeiLani Dowell for Congress 2004!, 8th Congressional District
Louisiana reporter
Mother of Police brutality victim, Oakland, Community organizer
National Black Bayview Newspaper,
National Lawyers Guild
October 22 Coalition against Police Brutality (4)
Organizer Local 4, reporter/Police Accountability (2)
Police Commission Nomination Task Force
RAB. SF
Rap artist, Social activist
Reclaiming the Commons
SEIU 1000,concerned mother of three
Senator at large for the French in Western United States
SF Board of Education
SF Police Commission Nominee (1)
SFUSD
Sierra Nevada Earth First!
Social justice organizers (4)
"The Mexican Bus" SF
TransActionSF - San Francisco, California
Visiting Nurse Association

I assume this cause frustration and negative anticipation for your team. I want to assure you that we will not block the flow of visitors traffic, will
encourage our protesters to visit the exhibit, which we support in spite of its questionable location, and will maintain a respectful, peaceful format to our demonstration.

There is still time to honor our request to build an altar to Idriss Stelley
next to the exhibit. I would appreciate your prompt response.

Regards,
mesha Monge-Irizarry
Idriss Stelley Foundation
(415) 595-8251

Why would the people of San Francisco want (or support) a memorial to a man that endangered their lives and attempted to murder several police officers. Stelly was no hero, nor is he someone people/children should look up to. In fact, if he were still alive, he would be in prison for his crimes (even in San Francisco).
We need to choose better role models and stop celebrating the lives of common criminals. What kind of message are you trying to send to the children?

>The management has ignored our calls
>and E-mails urging them to build an altar
>to Idriss for the event.

This doesn't make any sense to me. I could understand if the Stelley family/friends wanted to build an altar themselves and place it at the Metreon (i.e., be given booth space like all the other groups at the Earth Day event).

But WHY would you possibly want such an altar to be created by some corporate PR person who never even MET your loved one and certainly doesn't care about paying tribute to his memory?

And why NOW?

And why THIS event?