A Grave Matter

Activist: Desecration of cemetery act of racism

COLLINGDALE — Philadelphia attorney and civil rights activist Michael Coard is setting his sights on Eden Cemetery, claiming the desecration of 201 headstones in the historic African-American cemetery was racially motivated.

Local police insist that is not the case.

Coard is the leader of Avenging the Ancestors Coalition (ATAC), a group that recently fought for the recognition of nine African slaves owned by George Washington in Philadelphia.

Friends of Eden Cemetery and ATAC will hold a press conference at 12:30 today at Sixth and Walnut streets in Philadelphia, to promote an event that will be held at the cemetery Saturday.

“(Today’s press conference) is simply an attempt to enlighten the public and media on why this is an important and urgent situation that must be addressed,” said Coard. “We’re ringing the alarm bell to the public that on Saturday, we’re going to have two hours of informational and enlightening demonstrations and presentations.”

Three white teenage boys, ages 15, 16, and 17, were arrested for their involvement in toppling 201 headstones in Eden Cemetery between July 14-19.

Police Chief Robert Adams said there was no evidence suggesting the vandalism was racially motivated.

“There is nothing to prove that. This is one facet making these allegations and statements,” said Adams. “This guy comes out of the blue and sends a press release … he never asked to meet with me or talk or anything.”

Established in 1902, Eden is the nation’s oldest African-American public cemetery and a reminder of the days when black citizens could not be buried alongside whites.

Among the persons of note buried there are renowned opera singer Marian Anderson, civil rights leader Octavius Catto, who led the fight to integrate Philadelphia’s streetcars, the Rev. Dr. Charles Tindley, a son of slave parents who wrote 60 hymns, including “Stand By Me,” and William Still, often referred to as “the father of the Underground Railroad.”

The teens, whose names were not released because of their ages, were each charged with 201 counts of criminal mischief and desecration of venerated objects, criminal conspiracy, criminal trespass and defiant trespass.

“The fact our African-American ancestors have not been given the respect of being allowed to rest in peace … they endured racism when alive, but Eden Cemetery proves they have to deal with racism after death,” said Coard, a member of convicted cop-killer Mumia Abu-Jamal’s defense team.

Adams said he has increased police presence at Eden Cemetery, and has spoken to relatives with loved ones buried in the cemetery, the Anti-Defamation League and cemetery board members about the incident.

“They are all supportive of what we’re doing. The board of directors were thankful we made an arrest,” said Adams. “(The families) are upset and I can’t blame them. There is no proof to fact (it was) racially motivated. This was kids being knuckleheads, knocking over gravestones and there is no evidence to (the) contrary.”

Coard says ATAC and Friends of Eden Cemetery believe the desecration of headstones was racially motivated because there has been vandalism and disrespect to the site over the decades.

“Since 1902, there have been problems with headstones being turned over, motorcycle riding and urination at the cemetery. None of this stuff is just kids being kids,” Coard said.

He said proof the cemetery was targeted in the July vandalism was the fact a nearby cemetery did not have similar vandalism.

He did not know the name of the cemetery, but may have been referring to neighboring Mount Zion, a non-secterian cemetery.

“The nearby cemetery with white folks, none of this is happening. To say it’s just kids being kids, then why aren’t they doing it at the white cemetery?” Coard said.

Adams said he wasn’t aware of any toppled tombstones in Mount Zion, but that didn’t mean the location was free of crime.

Officers were patrolling Eden Cemetery about a week after the vandalism when they heard voices in Mount Zion, where they found and arrested five African-American men for criminal trespass and possession of marijuana, Adams said.

The following night, police arrested a Darby woman in Mount Zion for possession of cocaine and public drunkenness.

The “Day to Honor our Ancestors” at Eden Cemetery will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday. Coard will speak and there will be music and re-enactments of some of the historic figures buried at the cemetery.

Coard said ATAC and Friends of Eden Cemetery are working to collect funds for a new fence surrounding the historic cemetery.

“We want to enlighten, energize, and motivate to stop disrespecting our buried black ancestors,” said Coard. “A wrought-iron fence could cost $1 million, but our immediate hope is to provide a steel security fence for $100,000.”