Every year he had a party. He would call it his “75th Birthday Part II” or his “80th Birthday Part 4.”
You get the idea. And from
all over Rhode Island, all over New England and even all over the country,
friends and colleagues and relatives would meet, greet, drink, eat, sing and
laugh the day away at Richard Walton’s hideaway, at the mouth of the Pawtuxet
River, basking in the sunshine (or rain showers), reveling in each other’s
company, renewing acquaintances, and hugging old friends.
By the end of the day, there was a cigar box full of checks and
cash for Amos House and/or Providence Niquinohomo Sister City Project because social
justice was in his blood and opportunities like this should never be wasted.
So for the first time in decades last year, there was no party
at Richard Walton’s house in Warwick. Instead, a bunch of his friends got
together, and produced a fund-raiser at Shea
high School in Pawtucket to honor his memory and his work. And
to continue that legacy, they formed The Red Bandana Fund.
But this year the party’s back! And we’re hoping to keep it
going for a long, long time.
After much deliberation and agonizing, the committee decided to
give not just one but 2 awards this year; one to longtime community activist
and hell-raiser, Henry Shelton, and the other to the passionate, unrelenting
organizing workers called the Providence Student Union. Last year, the first
Award went to Amos House, a cause Richard spent a good part his life working
on.
They were many deserving nominees this year, all of which one
could make an excellent argument for winning the award. The process eventually
narrowed down to two: both Henry Shelton and the Providence Student Union.
Finally, it became apparent that it made a lot of sense to give to both. So we
did.
Richard would have loved the choices.
Since the mid 1960’s as a Catholic priest, Henry Shelton has
fought for people’s rights and organized for social justice. After being
dissatisfied with the approach of the diocese over the issues of poverty, Henry
left the priesthood to continue organizing full time. He joined with George
Wiley, a tireless advocate from Rhode Island, as part of the National Welfare
Rights Organization.
After Wiley died in a boating accident in August 1973,
Henry continued his work forming numerous non-profit organizations including
The Coalition for Consumer Justice (CCJ), The RI handicapped Action Committee
(RIHAC), the Worker’s Association for Guarantee Employment (WAGE), the Fund for
Community Progress (FCP) and the George Wiley Center (the latter with which he
is still involved).
From utility rate increases to food stamp cuts to free school
breakfast for children to winter shut off regulations to stopping the
Charlestown Nuclear power plant to summer jobs to worker’s rights, it is not an
understatement to say that Henry Shelton is the conscience of this state and
has been so for a long, long time.
There’s is even a law
mandating a fair repayment programs on back utility bills called The Henry
Shelton Act. And since Richard served on the Board of the George Wiley Center for
decades; and that they marched together on many occasions, working so
passionately for the causes Henry still fights for to this day, it’s only
appropriate that Henry be one of the first recipients of the award.
Indeed, there is no way Henry Shelton could be ignored.
The Providence Student
Union, on the other hand is relatively new to the picture.
Consisting of mostly high school students, the organization was formed to fight
cuts at Hope High school, which they eventually succeeded in doing. But they
didn’t stop there. Quickly, the students realized the influence they could be
to institute reforms.
They testified, organized and protested against unjust
policies like the Common Core and High Stakes testing, much to the chagrin of
those in charge. They have become a familiar presence before the board of
education and have earned themselves a role in the decision making process;
speaking truth to power and giving students a voice they have never had before.
This is a true grass-roots organization by any definition as
their own words testify:
“The Providence Student Union’s vision of social change is based on the principle that justice can only be won in lasting ways when impacted communities themselves unite together to work for the changes they believe in. From this principle comes PSU’s model: organize low-income youth of color to make positive changes in the here and now by working to build student power within their schools, while strengthening the movement for social and economic justice in the long term by developing students to become leaders who will continue to bring their communities together to work for change long after they have graduated.”
It is their commitment to grass-roots organizing and social change,
at such a young age, that has earned them the recognition and thanks of the Red
Bandana Fund and for all those fighting for justice in today’s society.
Our mission is to honor those community members who uphold the
values Richard Walton espoused. And with this year’s selections, we believe we
have done just that.
So come this Sunday and join with us as we gather together to
honor the past, and the future, in memory of Richard Walton. Buy yourself a an
official, Richard Walton, Red Bandana and a beer, as we toast those who have
worked for, and continue to work for, social justice in Rhode Island.
See you there.
To find out more about The Red Bandana Fund or to make a
contribution, click here www.soup.org/page1/RedBandana.html.
(Core participants in organizing the event this year include:
Bill Harley, Stephen Graham, Jane Falvey, Barbara & Rick Wahlberg. Other
participants include: Jane Murphy, Jodi Glass, Cathy Barnard & Richard
Walton, Jr.)