Leo Coleman Jr Hanging and the Redding Sundial Cannabis Collective

  

Imagine if you will, you are heading up a facebook site seeking justice for one of the most heinous crimes ever to be covered up in Shasta County. Oh im not talking about the lynching of the Ruggles brothers or the multitude of other unsolved lynching's over the years here.


I speak of the beating, torture and mutilation of a black man covered up some 23 years ago.

"The mutilated body of 31 year-old Leo Coleman, Jr. of Redding, California was found hanging from a tree in the nearby town of Anderson by two teenage boys November 24, 1997.

"Police reports document that Officer Ochoa received three separate ' reports from three different people on November 24, that Leo Coleman, Jr. was the victim of hanging by adherents of so-called "white pride" elements in the local community. On the day after Leo, Jr.'s death was reported, someone made a drawing of a hanging man and put it on Bobbi Culver, Leo, Jr.''s girlfriend's, front door."

After reading the only news publication with the courage to cover this gruesome tragic cover up story one MUST READ the tragic tale as you can see after reading and you have a heart and soul, you also will want to help in any way possible.

*WARNING GRAPHIC*  You can find the complete story of the hanging of Leo Coleman and 3 letters to the editor here    

Now with the Grace of God attention has been drawn by local news media outlets that folks indeed are seeking justice for Leo Coleman Jr, as the Record Searchlight reported. 

"23 years later, family still has questions about a Black man's hanging death in Anderson"

Our group Justice for Leo Coleman Jr and the Coleman family facebook group WE DEMAND JUSTICE FOR LEO COLEMAN JR even had a flower memorial for Leo Jr in front of Anderson Police Department and this is what the Chief of Anderson California police department had to say following the protest. 

“The men and women of APD care about this community and are committed to uncovering the truth, seeking justice, and serving without bias, prejudice, or regard. We will continue to investigate this matter and vet out all information, leads, and suspects before rendering a final disposition.”

Police issue response to demonstrators seeking justice for hanged black man, 23 years ago

"And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two."

Now Approximately a month and a half ago a young lady at Sundial Collective approached me and began talking about the Leo Coleman Jr case unsolicited.

She stated her ******* To Sensitive At This Time *******

A month and a half later, I asked the young girl at Sundial collective if anybody from Anderson Police Department called her, and she stated no... I also then enquired about her name as the Record Searchlight reporter asked me repeatedly through emails what her, and her brothers name was.

Well I left this message on comment section of Sundial Collective.

******* To Sensitive At This Time ******* "One of your employees has repeatedly told me her brother was one of the juveniles that originally found the body of black man Leo Coleman Jr. hanging 23 years ago. She stated her brother said there were symbols carved in the body, which would be quite strange since the police were quick to call it a suicide. As you can imagine I wish this information to go to the proper authorities as I am the administrator of the Justice For Leo Coleman Jr Facebook page. In fact here is a cut and paste of email of Record Searchlight reporter I received just this morning... As you can see this is no game...... Family members have been suffering for years.......

If your budtender is playing game with me, I need to know now"

"From: Arthur,Damon <Damon.Arthur@redding.com>

Sent: Monday, July 27, 2020 6:13 PM

To: chris <chriseric777@hotmail.com>

Subject: RE: Leo Coleman Jr Murder Information

Hi Mr. Solberg,

What is her brother’s name?

I interviewed a man a few weeks ago who said he was one of two who found Leo Coleman Jr. in 1997.

I have been unable to verify his story. I would need to verify the story of anyone who told me they found Leo Coleman Jr.

The Anderson Police will not release police reports to me and Leo Coleman’s father says the names of the two boys who found him were covered up in the copy of the police report he has. So at this point I am unable to verify the statements from anyone.

It would be helpful if the people who claim to have found Mr. Coleman could provide verification of their stories.

Thank you,"

(Sent via Sundial Collective )

Well I was security at Sundial Collective when a manager, owner? came out unidentified as her name or position started saying I was going in to approach this girl and quiz her again, which is not true, and I explained what she told me and that my one and only goal was for her to speak to Damon Arthur, reporter at Record Searchlight , and I only wanted to know if she would yes or no and drop it for good there. This "manager" after explaining my story, stated "I cant blame you" and gave me her word she would find out. In the mean time, I received another email from Damon Arthur , reporter asking AGAIN what is her name...

My response,

Good Morning...

"You certainly have my permission to phone manager Ashley at Sundial collective to explain the situation as I left a message with her wanting a face to face but have yet to hear back.  I did tell the other manager at Sundial collective that the business did not even need to be mentioned in any possible news story as my one and only goal was to have her brother talk to reporter Mr Arthur... Perhaps I spoke out of turn, but I see how crucial contact of this girl's brother is, and if he is willing to talk. That was days ago. 

Thank you for your continued interest in this stunning cover up of a tragic murder

Chris Solberg 

For my efforts to seek justice, my supervisor has stated Sundial Collective has removed me from my job and position as security , and my supervisor has relayed that their is a restraining order against me for my efforts to see that this valuable information has been passed on to the proper authorities.

It is my personal opinion that Sundial collective management  is playing games with the lives and hearts of the Leo Coleman Jr family.

Has not 23 years been long enough?

I think and believe management wants nothing to affect the sales and distribution of cannabis products sales, profit over people, and their plants are far more important that the Leo Coleman Jr family.

If you tell the creator of Justice For Leo Coleman Jr group Sundial Collective management the things you did about this ghastly murder, what do you or would you expect a reasonable and prudent individual to do with the information?

I want a copy of this restraining order please...

Chris Solberg

Inside The Redding California Homeless Crisis

Several articles have come out recently about our local homeless crisis featuring the investigative reporting skills of independent journalist Evelyn Nieves. You can hear and read her interview here at  What Redding's Response to Homelessness Says About a Statewide Crisis at the San Francisco Public Press.

“This population has always existed, what hasn’t existed was the kind of street homelessness we see now. Why is that? Money...Stories about homelessness never bring up the fact that federal funding has dropped.”

Evelyn Nieves has covered homelessness extensively and has been reporting in depth on Redding’ response to homelessness, and how it parallels trends around the region and the state. Redding Coalition for the Homeless director Chris Solberg had the pleasure of meeting Evelyn and spending much of the day with her and the local homeless population at the Shasta County library. “There is a dynamic of hatred,” said Solberg, who has posted scores of videos on YouTube documenting the city’s responses, from police encounters with homeless people to the caging of park benches.You can read her most recent in depth article here, Redding’s Homeless Ride a Wave of Very Tough Love."  California Gov. Gavin Newsom calls homelessness an emergency akin to a major earthquake, but his proposals do not prevent cities from sweeping people off the streets."

"Security guards would kick them off the library lawn at dusk. South City Park next door, once a refuge, sat behind iron gates. So did the alcoves of the businesses across the street. Even the tunnel under a nearby road, a creepy crawl space that always offered a last resort, was cut off: An elaborate metal barrier, almost sculptural, criss-crossed its length, blocking access."

“There is a dynamic of hatred.”https://t.co/gxRGhHhnrG

— Capital & Main (@capitalandmain) February 6, 2020

“We’re treated like scum” said Tani Kelley 44-year-old mother of two She lost her housing to a series of misfortunes she said including the 2018 wildfires that ravaged Shasta and neighboring Trinity counties “No one,” Kelley said, “wants to be out here” https://t.co/92ePM8NJi0

— Redding Homeless (@ReddingHomeless) February 5, 2020

Redding’s homeless ride a wave of very tough love https://t.co/ROrkwDP80J

— Daily Kos (@dailykos) February 7, 2020

World Homeless Action Day 10/10/13

*UPDATE
PROTEST Destruction of Redding California Homeless Camps - World Homeless Action Day Event

Homeless Advocates ...

PROTEST - BRING YOUR CAMERA - INVITE YOUR FRIENDS !

https://www.facebook.com/events/167654713435278/

___________


Unfortunately it seems like homeless hatred is on the rise in Redding California and abroad.  Homeless folks are rapidly loosing their civil and constitutional rights. Police chase and evict homeless from their camps, some taking and throwing away their necessary survival gear and personal possessions in a cruel and unusual game of cat and mouse. One city has now set up a hotline to remove homeless people from its no homeless allowed downtown business district. Local businesses and residents can report the location and offensive presence of  homeless person to police on sight making homelessness once again a crime.

World Homeless Action Day is a global worldwide collaborative effort that is held on the 10th day of October every year.

• Schools • Churches • Service Clubs • Individuals • Businesses

What are you doing for World Homeless Action Day ?

What should or could be done on this day? The day is there for you and your community to use to create change and make a difference in the lives of people who are experiencing homelessness in your local area.

 

Join Us On Facebook

Food Drives ... Fundraisers... Candlelight Vigil ... Awareness Protest March or Rally... Use the day in any way you want

YOU CHOOSE THE EVENT !

Please help get the word out ... benefit homeless people locally and in different countries around the globe and make a difference during World Homeless Action Day !

With the recent persecution and indifference of homeless folks in Redding and Shasta County California by local government officials what better time than now to create an event and support the less fortunate !

What are you doing for World Homeless Action Day 10/10/13 ?


Redding Coalition for the Homeless 


California Homeless Person's Bill of Rights and Fairness Act

 

4 Redding California police officers surround a
homeless man as he sits in back of city hall.



The eagerly awaited and compassionately long overdue California "Homeless Person's Bill of Rights and Fairness Act"  passed its first hurdle in the Assembly Judiciary Committee on a 7-2 party line vote.

In Los Angeles  the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals  found that a city law prohibiting sleeping, sitting or lying on public byways constituted "cruel and unusual punishment," because the city has so few shelter beds its street people have nowhere else to stay.

The same is true in Redding California.

Many California cities like Redding criminalize homelessness, giving tickets for camping (sleeping) and sitting, often taking their necessary survival gear (tents, sleeping bags ) telling them to leave town and violate them for what you and I may very well take for granted...  everyday living and life-sustaining activities.

"The solution to homelessness is not citations or jail time, Democratic Assemblyman Tom  Ammiano  said.  He called it a narrow bill to provide "a few basic protections" that would ensure California does not criminalize homelessness. Proponents compare current laws targeting the behavior of homeless people to past Jim Crow and "Anti-Okie" laws that were designed to segregate or remove people deemed undesirable."

Redding, with a city council who believes the poor , homeless and marginalized do not fall under their governing jurisdiction along with the middle and upper class of our community, as well as a   "Handouts Don't Help" campaign created by hotelier Ed Rullman and the Redding Business Merchants have noticeably increased homeless hatred in our community as well as a sense of homeless being a second class citizenry and promoting an entitlement mentality for the violation of their constitutional and civil rights.

The bill insures homeless have the right to "move freely, rest, solicit donations, pray, meditate, or practice religion, and to eat, share, accept, or give food and water in public spaces without being subject to criminal or civil sanctions, harassment or arrest.

Homeless people in California would have the right to rest in public spaces, including sidewalks, without the threat of arrest, and local governments would have to provide access to bathrooms and showers."

A.B. 5  is sure to receive a flood of opposition from League of California Cities, the Chamber of Commerce, and other business groups as it heads next to the Assembly Committee on Appropriations.

Here is how YOU can help...!

* For those of you in favor of  Homeless Person's Bill of Rights and Fairness Act we have made it easy to contact Redding's Assembly Member Brian Dahle online, or reach him at (530) 223-6300 to let him know you wish him to support  the California "Homeless Person's Bill of Rights and Fairness Act" and vote YES !

Outside of Redding contacts for California State Assembly can be found here.

* Letters of support needed for the California Homeless Bill of Rights (AB 5).

If you are a California resident, please take a moment to send a letter of support to Assembly Member Ammiano's office. You may fax the letter to (916) 319-2117 or you may mail the letter to: Honorable Tom Ammiano, California State Assembly, State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814.  

* Make a difference - Use social media to spread the Word !

Pass and share this page link around on Facebook,  Tweet it , Google + ,  Blogs and Forums, etc...

Please take the time to fight for our less fortunate brothers and sisters and the American concept that the nation founded on the principle that all men are created equal will not tolerate practices and laws that unfairly single out homeless people and criminalize them for everyday living and life-sustaining activities.



Redding Coalition for the Homeless Supports the California Homeless Person's Bill of Rights and Fairness Act.

*******

UPDATE:
"At a meeting in Sacramento last week, we learned that the California State Assembly’s Appropriations Committee has killed all proposed legislations which were heard and then placed onto ‘suspense’ status during the last session. AB5 (Homeless Person’s Bill of Rights and Fairness Act) is one of those legislations. Our bill is officially dead.

More than a 100 social-justice based organizations have worked together to bring this piece of civil rights legislation to where it got.  Over the next six months, we will organize more vigorously and reach out to a broader base.  In 2014, we will be back with our Bill and will work to get it passed by the State’s Assembly, and moved on to the Senate. We will win this fight!

Local ordinances that criminalize sitting or sleeping in public spaces across the country are not the answer to homelessness."

W.R.A.P.

Redding California Homeless - Handouts Do Help

I knew Robert when he took refuge under the covered entrance to Trinity Lutheran Church on Hilltop until they kicked him off the property several years ago. I have never witnessed him panhandling. Robert told me he was a Vietnam veteran, who often could be seen with a guitar. Apparently Robert spent the last years of his life sitting in front of the Target Department store. It is my understanding somebody ran over Roberts foot, and infection set in.

Folks in Target can tell you more, and they have been nice enough to purchase this memorial stand where this well known and loved homeless man dwelled.

 

Robert died of esophageal cancer which jives with what the folks told me at Target because they were not sure if it was the cancer or the gangrene or both that killed him.

*Folks working at Target gave him things periodically to survive and in the process monitored him.

*Folks working at Target noticed he was starting to fail healthwise and called help for him, so this homeless veteran didn't have to die on the street, but in the relative comfort of a health care facility.

*Folks working at Target bought and placed the thoughful memorial you see now next to the entrance of Target.

*Folks working at Target have proved again by their Love and Compassion that "Handouts Do Help"

No matter what the heartless have to say...

*******

I  came into contact with Robert Moore several times. During conversations around town in his lucid periods he was very soft spoken and at times you could see a sparkle in his eyes. He would always seem to make it to the food bank just about when we were ready to close, so I waived the 2x a month rule for him. He often needed sleeping bags, blankets, and other basic survival gear.

He was always so thankful and appreciative, and if he were still alive im sure he would tell you handouts do help.

Another poor soul fallen through the ever expanding cracks in Redding's social safety nets.

A touching personal tribute to an all to common tragic tale...

Marc Beauchamp: Fanfare for a Redding rock star

Two more tributes to Robert Moore


*******

 

Please meet Tony, a homeless man who has spent day and night during Redding's exceptionally cold winter outdoors. As hundreds of people a day pass by Tony across the street from the downtown post office, many of them leave love offerings... clothes, food, blankets, .......money.

Usually he can hobble over to the covered Raba bus station when it rains but he could not even get up when Fire and EMS arrived. He was hunched over all day which was very disturbing .
We noticed he was starting to fail healthwise and called help for him. I looked at the paramedic and said he was dying on that bench... He agreed

Redding Police and businesses are very hot to do a "Handouts Dont Help" campaign to try to drive some of the homeless out of town, As a Christian we are very much against as we could gage Tony's condition through out the day as we gave him love offerings

Tony spent over 2 weeks in the hospital.

As you can see, and if you were to ask Tony, handouts do help...


*******

A homeless senior citizen in her 70's who often panhandles to feed herself and feed her stray animal friends, Barbara or "Catwoman" camps out in the wooded area by the Sacramento River known as the Henderson Open Space. Recently she alleges that Bob Brannon, community work program officer for the Redding California Police Department has threatened to arrest her if she dident leave the Henderson area, and that she would loose her beloved pet dog.

She also alleges, as many homeless folks do, that Officer Brannon has taken her personal possesions and has cost her a great deal of money to replace. She loves to feed and take in unwanted stray dogs and cats, and it is said that she has developed a relationship with wild animals as well, feeding turtles and baby skunks as they rub up against her like baby kittens.

Unfortunatly when Bob Brannon discovers and raids her camp, he throws away any survival homeless camping gear she has managed to obtain.

Many, many homeless folks that live away from the Good News Rescue Mission wish to be self sufficient and panhandle for the most basic of survival needs, ( Tents, Sleeping Bags, Cooking Stoves, etc. ) which Officer Brannon of the Redding Police Department confiscates on a regular basis requiring folks like Barbara to panhandle to continually replace.

In order for many homeless folks in Redding and Shasta County to survive, your generous Handouts Do Help...


Redding Homeless Blog - Meet "Catwoman"


Redding Coalition for the Homeless