NEWS
PA G E 7
O
SATURDAY MARCH PLANNED FOR CHURCHILL MAN HARASSED BYNEIGHBOR, IGNORED BY POLICE
n July 21, the Pittsburgh Current told the story of Thomas Drake and the years of harassment he endured from a neighbor and a complete unwillingness by the Churchill Police Department to raise a single finger to help him A lot has changed in that time, however. Drake’s story has not only led to him finally getting the help he needs, but a larger discussion in the borough about both police and community reform. Drake, a disabled Black Vietnam veteran suffered three years of harassment by his white neighbor. The neighbor called the Churchill Police and municipal authorities on Drake countless times. The reasons for the calls vary, Drake said. Sometimes it was because Drake has a boat in his yard. Sometimes it was because Drake’s dog wandered into the neighbor’s yard. Sometimes it was because Drake played his music too loud while he and his grandchildren planted tomatoes. After his story was first published by Pittsburgh Current, Drake received a letter in the mail from the Allegheny
BY BRITTANY HAILER - PITTSBURGH CURRENT CONTRIBUTING WRITER INFO@PITTSBURGHCURRENT.COM
Thomas Drake. (Current Photo by Jake Mysliwczyk)
Health Department stating that a neighbor reported rats in his yard. Because of the calls, Drake had to give his beloved dog to his son. Although the borough has said that Drake can bring his dog back to his home, he says it would break his grandchildren’s hearts to take the dog
10 | SEPTEMBER 1, 2020 | PITTSBURGH CURRENT
away from them. He hopes to get a new pet as a service animal. “I just want the right that he can’t do it again. I want the right to get another dog and the right that he can’t harass me when I get my new dog,” Drake said. Felicity Williams, a local activist and attorney, has
been rallying the community around Drake. She’s connected him with community members and activists such as Fawn Walker Montgomery of Take Action Mon Valley, Leonard Hammond of Hammond Initiative, Eric Howze of No Hero Left Behind, Camile Redman, and Terrence Bennet who