By Rober J. Hansen | OBSERVER Staff Writer
This weekend kicks off the 6th Annual Stephon Clark Legacy Celebration hosted by the I Am Sac Foundation.
The Legacy Weekend has served as a beacon of hope and empowerment for six years to remember Stephon Clark, who in 2018 was shot and killed by Sacramento police officers.
Clark was shot in his grandmother’s backyard when he went to surrender and police mistook a cellphone he was holding for a gun.
Stevante Clark, Stephon’s brother, said the importance of this annual event is to remember the tragedy of his brother’s death and to shed light upon the officers who still work for the police department and who were never charged for murder in Clark’s death.
“We like to acknowledge the fact that if you do something so terrible that a law has to be created that you should be held accountable,” Clark told The OBSERVER.
This year’s goal is to expand events to include educational workshops, a town hall forum, listening and learning sessions, a community block party, youth activities, and a special ceremony to honor families impacted by police violence.
I Am SAC will present awards to graduates of its comprehensive 12-week program, “Healing With Mama Clark” – a course that helps impacted mothers and family members acknowledge the importance of policy change, healing and coping.
“This first graduation ceremony is a landmark occasion. While we celebrate the resilience of the impacted mothers who have completed the program, we also take this opportunity to acknowledge so many other mothers who are grieving,” Clark said. “The foundation recognizes that there are families of all ethnic backgrounds who have lost loved ones to drug-related homicides, excessive policing and community violence. We welcome them to join us on this journey towards healing.”
There are eight events in Sacramento from March 15 through 18:
Friday, March 15: 6th Annual Stephen Clark Legacy Weekend Kickoff/Ribbon Cutting of Grand Reopening of Stephon’s House, a museum, library, resource and recreation center located at 5940 Rosebud Lane from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Friday, March 15: Candlelight Vigil – Remembered In Light: Honoring Victims of Police Brutality between 7th & 8th Street (Improv Alley) from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 16: Flight For Justice Vigil (Impacted Families) at 2801 Meadowview Rd from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 16: Unity In The Community Block Party at 7760 24th Street from 1:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 17: Mama Clark’s Roses & Butterflies: A Celebration Of Life, McKinley Park at 3255 H Street from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Sunday, March 17: Mother’s Brunch Healing With Mama Clark Graduation at 6240 Excelsior Road from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Monday, March 18: Justice and Accountability March/Rally at 1315 10th Street, California State Capitol from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Monday, March 18: First Annual Stephon Clark Creative and Business Mixer: Bridging the Gap, Building Community through Connection at Stephon’s House, a museum, library, resource and recreation center located at 5940 Rosebud Lane from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.