Extensive Media Coverage of Turf Summit Organized by Urban Peace Movement and United Roots
United Roots partnered with the Urban Peace Movement for the Oakland Turf Summit on Silence the Violence Day Thursday August 25th, 2011. The Turf Summit included a phone call from legendary drug deal Lil’D (from prison), a panel discussion about the turf violence with some OG’s from Oakland and live performances by local Oakland artists. At the Turf Summit United Roots premiered a new Turf Unity music video made in the Multimedia Summer Class (a program of the Oakland Peapod Adobe Youth Voices Academy at United Roots). The Turf Fienz performed turf dance, O-zone & J-Milli-on premiered their new music video “Real Oakland”, and legendary artist DJ Fuze held it down for rap artist Queen Deelah. Keysha Cole also made a surprise guest appearance at the event (photo below). United Roots will post a short film about the event in the week following. Below is some media coverage of the event.
Click the following links to go directly to the media pages or just watch the videos below:
KTVU Channel 2 Coverage of the Event
ABC Channel 7 Coverage of Event
By Tomas Roman
OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) – Thursday night was “Silence The Violence” night in Oakland. A teen summit was held in East Oakland with a convicted Oakland drug dealer as guest speaker live from prison.
“I take full responsibility for my actions,” said former drug lord Darryl “Lil’D” Reed.
Lil’D spoke from Terminal Island federal prison on the phone. He’s part of the national Silence The Violence Day being held in Oakland. About 100 teens and adults crowded a union hall on Hegenberger Road to hear Lil’D speak.
“He wants everybody to stop and think before you act,” said writer Dennis Haywood.
Lil’D was sentenced to 32 years for possessing 60 pounds of crack cocaine. He’s been in prison for the past 23 years. He told the group not to follow in his footsteps.
“It’s like it’s a struggle like somebody pulling you by the arm and you can’t get out,” said 13-year-old Allan Williams, Jr.
Williams says he has to fight doing drugs and joining a gang every day at school. Lil’D's message is clear to him.
“They want you to stay and maybe smoke or do drugs and I’m not really into it,” said Williams.
This teen summit is being held as Oakland council members Ignacio De La Fuente and Larry Reed consider imposing a curfew for anyone under 18.
(Copyright ©2011 KGO-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
