WACO Attacks Redevelopment

Men on Fillmore 1960

The residents of the Western Addition took a while to develop opposition to the corporate plans for their neighborhood. But by 1967 the Western Addition Community Organization (WACO) had launched an all-out attack on the SF Redevelopment Agency (RDA), demanding community participation in the planning as well as replacement housing and financial assistance for the displaced. RDA head Justin Herman opposed WACO, calling it “a passing flurry of proletarianism.”

Bennie Stewert, former resident of the area, long-time housing activist, and former Black Panther, speaking at a public lecture in 1994: “One of the most dynamic executive directors of the RDA was Justin Herman. Justin had retired about 1972 and soon died. Sometimes the Redevelopment Agency meetings became very volatile. Sometimes they had police there. I don't know if this brought about his death, but there was one occasion where Justin Herman was attacked at a public meeting. There was this guy named Christopher Lewis, (in those days he was a “jammer”) he was about 6'2”, weighing about 225 lbs., not a small guy. Chris was known to be kind of crazy and there was one occasion where Chris leaped over a lectern and collared Justin Herman and threatened to slap the shit out of him. Some people say Justin never really fully recovered from that threat.”

Contributors to this page include:

African American Historical and Cultural Society,San Francisco,CA - Publisher or Photographer

Carlsson,Chris - Writer

Welch,Calvin - Writer

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