USVI march leader calls for blocking tourist dollars on St John

Mario Moorhead

Blowing the conch horn

March participants

Love City placard

by Susan Mann and DaraMonifah
On assignment in St John for Caribbean Net News

Monday, October 3, 2005

ST JOHN, USVI: A police presence was visible in the US Virgin Islands' Cruz Bay Saturday as citizens of St. Croix and St. Thomas converged on St. John to take part in two marches and heed the call of a newly formed organization, "We the People for Justice."

The St. Croix group was formed to address the growing racial tension brought about by hate-related crimes in recent months on the tiny island. The sound of the conch horn could be heard by those gathered in the Cruz Bay ferry dock area as the boat carrying St. Croix participants arrived.

Leaders of the group would later say several charter boats canceled reservations once they learned the purpose of the group's trip; to lend a hand to the St. John community in calling attention to the lack of progress the FBI is making in solving the rape of a black woman by four white men on the island.

Traditional African music was performed as people mingled while waiting for the march to begin. 

The march was completed without incident. Police escorts accompanied the participants, and were posted along the march route. Chants about the need for "justice now", as well as the singing of the familiar, US civil rights refrain, "We shall overcome" were heard. Individuals carried posters featuring various human rights themes, as well as “acceptance for all” in the St. John community.

US Congressional Delegate Donna Christiansen, told Caribbean Net News she was, "glad to see such a mix of people turn out for the event, and that every one wants justice." Christiansen released a statement earlier in the week about her displeasure with the lack of progress on the part of the US Justice Department.

After the march concluded speakers convened at a local ballpark to voice opinions and make speeches. Several businesses in Cruz Bay apparently remained closed for the day in anticipation of possible, violent unrest. The few tourists on hand seemed oblivious to the significance of the civil protest actions.

Charismatic St. Croix radio personality and community leader, Mario Moorhead, who spearheaded the development of the " We the People for Justice" organization said, "We, on the island of St. Croix view St. John as the youngest of the three island sisters," and "Now the bigger sister will have to see about tending to the little sister (St. John)."

Moorhead said, "Virgin Islanders can not allow their way of life to be co-opted, corrupted, or taken over." Moorhead made reference to a recent graffiti statement found on private property on the island: "51 percent white, and 50 percent black." The crowd cheered when he responded to that statement with, "Your 51 percent could be diluted in to nothing!"

He then said, "If you want unity you must realize that the Virgin Islands is made up of people of African descent", and "We will not be pushed back into servitude. We must run things!"

Moorhead said he had reached the "impregnable conclusion that there are some people on St. John who could care less about our way of life," and "If the intent (referencing the rape of resident Ester Frett) was a message, we got the message!" He said if those present at the meeting know the names of those involved in the rape, that they tell his organization who the individuals are. "Bring the rascals, and we will terminate them."

Moorhead said that more Cruzan’s would be arriving on St. John on Sunday. The group is planning to remain until the crime is solved, with activities scheduled through out the coming week.

Moorhead said the organization is "not about breaking laws, or violence, but that the businesses in Cruz Bay have more influence than the average man, and we will shut them down if we have to." He also said "we will go house to house (to find the rapists) if we have to, we have never lived like this in the Virgin Islands, and compared recent events to the deep south in the United States in "the thirties, forties, and fifties."

Morehead implored business owners "not to make us stretch the law to the limit." He hopes for a "firm legal, peaceful message" to be made in the community.

Ester Frett spoke briefly to the assembled group after being assisted to the microphone. She asked, "women of color stand up and speak out, and "what has happened to her should not happen to another woman." Ms. Frett (who is black) reported to police on August 30 that she was raped by white men. In recent months there have also been acts of vandalism and arsons, which led to the involvement of the FBI. 

Father Charles Crespo, who led a brief prayer at the beginning of the rally, told Caribbean Net News that the inter-faith coalition has been involved in offering support and encouragement to the West Indies citizens of St. John.

The Virgin Islands Unity organization is in the process of organizing six work committees on the three, major USVI islands. They will address the area of racial issues, property taxes, land use/roads/and housing, education, crime, and health.

Dr. Iris Kern, long time, volunteer Executive Director of the “Safety Zone”, a non-profit domestic violence organization, spoke with Caribbean Net News by phone earlier this week. Dr. Kern said, “We (white residents of St. John) need to stand shoulder to shoulder with West Indies people. It doesn’t matter how long we have lived here, or who we are, either we stand up, or we don’t.”

Senator-at-Large, Craig Barshinger told Caribbean Net News “The day’s activities were necessary due to the lack of a timely response on the part of federal and local authorities to relieve tension and frustration because there was no resolution from so the people needed to express it.” 

Following the rally, participants boarded a motorcade bound for Coral Bay, on the island’s east end where a bonfire was scheduled. The location was chosen in part, as a show of solidarity to the Frett family residents of the Coral bay area.

Residents on that part of the island have repeatedly asked for a police presence there, with the VI police department acquiescing recently to their demand.

The Rastafarian community prepared for the bonfire. Spiritual leaders, including the Rev. Ton-I and Dr. ChenziRa Kahina lead the group in prayer and chanting. At times participants became visibly emotional. The leaders expressed their belief that the light rain showers were a confirmation that their ancestors were watching over them.

The evening concluded with poetry readings by the St. Thomas cultural collective, “The Rock Collective”. The poetry themes were peace and justice. 

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