Rev. Al Sharpton Signs Lease for Chicago Stay
The Rev. Al Sharpton was in Chicago last weekend to sign the lease on an apartment where he will live during his temporary stay here. Sharpton will utilize the rental unit for at least one day per week over the next two or three months while he addresses gun violence in Chicago and promote his new book, “The Rejected Stone.”
Sharpton said during a Sunday news conference where he appeared with pastors in the Austin community--an area hit hard by gun violence--that he'd be working with community groups and pastors. He tweeted, “I am at Sankofa's [Cultural Arts and Business Center] on the West Side of Chicago announcing our anti violence, drive. I am visiting the apartment I will stay in once a week.”
The Sankofa Cultural Arts and Business Center is the premier place for cultural entertainment education, and empowerment of African-Americans on Chicago’s west side according to its website.
Malcolm Crawford, a commercial landlord and executive director of the Austin African American Business Networking Association and owner of Sankofa Cultural Arts Center, in Austin, was featured in a 2012 Crains Chicago Business article saying “the potential is there for Austin to be great."
Austin is described as Chicago's deadliest neighborhood, with the highest number of homicides in the past year. Meanwhile, area businesses, particularly the independent shops, are suffering as owners see fewer customers willing to risk a trip to their stores. Community leaders said a host of factors — from societal issues to economics — have contributed to the area's current problems, according to the Crain’s article.
The article states how, several years ago, Crawford purchased a former women's shelter at 5820 W. Chicago Ave. and turned it into the Sankofa Cultural Arts & Business Center with hopes of kick-starting a revival to the business corridor that was "like a drug heaven."
Sankofa originally was planned as a cultural arts center that would host art exhibitions, lectures…and serve business owners. These days, Sankofa operates more as a community center catering to the area's needs for meeting and classroom space.
Sharpton, head of the National Action Network and political television talk show host, said he’s not here to bring a new program to end gun violence but to promote what’s already being done.
Rev. Ira Acree of Greater St. John Bible Church in the Austin community said in a recent Chicago Citizen Newspaper interview that, “There are so many people here doing work but the media doesn’t know about them,”Acree said. “Rev. Al wants to highlight the work that’s already being done.”
Chicago has a high homicide rate compared with other major U.S. cities, even though the number is down compared with last year. Chicago last year, had more than 500 homicides.
Rev. Sharpton also preached two sermons Sunday morning at Trinity United Church of Christ, 400 W 95th Pl, Chicago, IL.
Sharpton’s plan to take up residence in Chicago is somewhat similar to what Martin Luther King Jr. did in the mid-1960s as Chicago became a hub of the civil rights movement. King also rented an apartment in Chicago and led marches citywide.
Sharpton has been working with King’s eldest son, Martin Luther King III who is expected to join the Rev here in Chicago at some point.
Rev. Al plans to do his regular television appearances here, including his MSNBC show.
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