On Feb. 10, the intersection of Third and Mesa streets has been renamed “NAACP Square” for the local chapter of the San Pedro, Wilmington and Palos Verdes Peninsula NAACP Branch 1069.
Though the renaming of the intersection was pushed through during the waning days of Councilman Joe Buscaino’s administration on Nov. 22, the honor could be seen as a full-circle Black history moment.
In attendance at the unveiling were Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Compton Mayor Emma Sharif, state Senator Steve Bradford, and Assemblyman Mike Gipson, alongside Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. For anyone concerned about Black access to quality union jobs on the LA waterfront and familiar with this port town’s labor history, the scene should have been riveting.
The moment was probably most crystalized during Seroka’s comments at the podium.
During his comments, Seroka revealed that he became a member of the NAACP through his friendship with Joe Gatlin, vice president of the NAACP’s local chapter. He recounted his conversation with Gatlin during the protests following the police murder of George Floyd two years ago.
“In 2020, we had so much unrest on our nation’s streets,” Seroka said. “Joe and I sat down and talked about how the port could help.”
The port director referred to Gatlin as a friend, mentor, and guide.
Seroka noted that the port has supported Juneteenth celebrations while creating jobs and opportunities before referencing the goods movement training campus the port announced in 2021.
Anyone unfamiliar with this town’s history, politics, and political figures could be forgiven for not knowing the person of the hour was Gatlin, a native of San Pedro, whose parents set down roots in this town more than 80 years ago. His grandparents arrived in San Pedro at least a decade prior.
Gatlin has been focused on increasing the number of Black workers on the Waterfront for at least 15 years, working behind the scenes, leaning hard on relationships forged and strengthened over six decades.
The day’s celebrations took place against the backdrop of Black History Month banners on Mesa Street from Third to Seventh Streets, which were put up on light poles ahead of the plaque unveiling. The inspiration for the idea came from Tyris Hatchett, a long-time crisis intervention worker at Toberman Neighborhood Center.
“We see banners put up for events relating to the Italian and Croatian American communities, we see banners for Dia del Muertos and we celebrate Juneteenth, but I would like to see us celebrate the contributions of Black people in San Pedro,” Hatchett said a few days before the Black history month festivities on Feb. 11. Hatchett was instrumental in organizing a resource fair at Toberman along with the Rev. Adam Stevenson and the San Pedro Committee Network.
Hatchett noted that many people don’t realize the 15th District includes so many communities from San Pedro to Watts.
The longtime intervention worker was among the honorees at the Feb. 11 plaque unveiling.
Hatchett and the Rev. Stevenson aren’t stopping with the banners. They, along with other stakeholders in San Pedro’s Black community, were inspired by the community forums during this last election cycle to connect with resources throughout the 15th district from San Pedro to Watts and every in-between. So they connected with Cathy Davenport, the president of the San Pedro Network, to put together a Black History Month Resource Fair at Toberman Neighborhood Center.
Davenport explained to Random Lengths News that more than 25 businesses and nonprofit organizations have confirmed to participate in the fair as of Feb. 2.
Restaurateur and civic leader John Papadakis; Mike Lansing, longtime director of the Boys and Girls Club; Retired Army general Peter Gravitt; Retired Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Douglas Barry; Port of Los Angeles executive director, Gene Seroka; Port of Long Beach executive director, Noel Hacegaba; County Supervisor Janice Hahn; Sherry Lopez, Juneteenth 400 committee board member; public safety emergency management deputy executive director and Los Angeles Port Police Chief Thomas Gazsi; LAPD Harbor Division, Captain Brett McGuire; Rev. Leo Thomas of Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church; Julie Huerta and Sonia Bailey of the YWCA Harbor Area; and LAPD Chief Michel Moore, were among the honorees at the unveiling.