Community responds to death of child
Demands Baltimore restrict utility shutoffs
By Sharon Black
Baltimore
On New Year's Eve, 11-year-old Davon Dortch
died in a house fire in East Baltimore caused by burning
candles. His family's electricity had been shut off. Davon's
7-year-old brother was listed in critical condition at Johns
Hopkins Children's Hospital, suffering from extensive
burns.
Teddy bears, balloons and other mementos mark the site of
Davon's death, placed there by loving neighbors and family.
Behind this makeshift memorial are the burned-out remains of a
small row house.
Community activists who visited the area found themselves
filled with anger and tears. Renee Washington, an organizer
with the All Peoples Congress, exclaimed, "I cannot imagine the
sadness and hurt that the mother of these two children is
feeling.
"How can a greedy and callous billion-dollar company like
Baltimore Gas and Electric be allowed to put profits before the
safety of the people?" she asked. "How long will it be before
the mayor and city government take action to protect our
children, the elderly and the poor?"
Washington and other community activists are planning a
rush-hour protest on Jan. 12 at City Hall to demand that
Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley use his powers under the City
Charter to declare a halt to all shutoffs of gas and
electricity during the winter and other periods of extreme
weather.
Washington asserted that this was not just an individual
tragedy for poor and working families faced with crisis, but
also an issue of safety for everyone.
"Baltimore is a city of row houses and apartments," she
said. "Not only did 11-year-old Davon die tragically and
needlessly, but that entire block of Luzerne Avenue was
threatened with the possibility of fire."
The APC is calling for a "City Commission to Review and Stop
Utility Shutoffs" to hold hearings, formulate and regulate a
system of appeals for shutoffs, launch a special investigation
and advocate for rolling back rates to protect workers and poor
people in Baltimore.
Steven Ceci, a local organizer with the Service Employees
International Union, explained: "The city has designated
commissions for all sorts of purposes. It is time to set up a
commission to address the crisis of utility shutoffs and the
high cost of gas and electricity that is threatening the
wellbeing of all workers."
He added: "This is an issue for the unions. Our members are
not only fighting to demand union rights but also for housing,
healthcare and the basic right to heat and light. We will be
mobilizing on Jan. 12 to build a campaign to stop utility
shutoffs in Baltimore."
Reprinted from the Jan. 15, 2004, issue of
Workers World newspaper
This article is copyright under a Creative
Commons License.
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Email: ww@workers.org
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