Ex-RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE Frontman Joins Families In South L.A. To Defend Community Farm
November 19, 2005Former RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE frontman Zach de la Rocha will take part in a November 22 concert to mobilize the community in South Central Los Angeles in Support of the South Central Farmers. Tuesday's concert at 41st and Long Beach Ave. will begin at 8:30 p.m. Also appearing on the bill will be Quetzal, members of OZOMATLI, and others.
For 13 years, 350 families have tended a 14-acre community farm in the middle of South L.A.'s gritty industrial belt. Growing their own cabbage, potatoes, tomatoes and other staples has helped make good nutrition affordable. Traditional crops like chipillin, alachi, quelite and pipicha have helped keep traditional cuisine and folk-medicine alive.
The City of L.A. acquired the land in the late 1980s, but abandoned plans to build a trash incinerator after community protests. In 1994, officials transferred title to the Harbor Department, which contracted with the L.A. Regional Food Bank to operate a community farm on the property. In 2003, the City Council agreed to sell the 14 acres back to the original owner, private developer Ralph Horowitz, who wants to demolish the garden and build a warehouse.
The 350 families — organized as South Central Farmers — have camped out in the field for weeks to prevent Horowitz from grabbing the land.
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