Uhuru Movement leads struggle against Weed and Seed
Around the anniversary of the killing I was on a live television show with the mayor and the chief of police who's a Negro. At the end of this little anniversary discussion we're having, they asked if anybody there had any last things they wanted to say and sum up. The chief said, "Well, I just want to say that we've been looking out for trouble spots in the community, and people have been telling me that one problem area is Weed and Seed. Therefore it's clear that we're going to have to rethink Weed and Seed."
(Above) Uhuru movement-led demonstration demanding and end to government-imposed "Weed and Seed" program.
It's been a struggle for position, and currently the Uhuru Movement commands the high ground.
Now we have a lot of work to do. At any juncture that they decide the price is too high, we'll see them move in other kinds of ways, including raising up whatever Negro leadership they want or they may increment the people to death to make them feel they've overcome their own crisis.
I think that we've done a tremendous amount of work. When somebody wants to talk about economic development or political direction in the white community, they don't go find a preacher to have that discussion with. It's just in the African community that to talk about economic development they find a preacher. They don't find somebody who's involved in business or political philosophy, they find a preacher.
The people are really getting a lot of political education. Almost every week we're holding events and helping people to understand not only the political issues but also economic development. It's a crucial kind of political education.
One important element in the work in St. Pete has been the existence of the solidarity movement. The existence of the solidarity movement has been a problem for them. We've been able to create the Northside Residents Opposed to Weed and Seed, which is white folks.
There was a televised meeting that the mayor went to called by the League of Women Voters. During the question and answer period he called on this safe little old white woman sitting in the audience. She jumped up and jammed up the mayor about Weed and Seed. "Why are you putting this undemocratic Weed and Seed in the African community? It's not going to solve any problems."
So it's been really important to work that front. It's important also because the Uhuru Movement's the movement now. So Uhuru has a white presence that's really important because we can re-shape the political terrain in the city of St. Petersburg. All that liberal garbage that's functioned to attack us in the past can now be replaced. If not replaced, certainly neutralized.
