The original post was in the works last year but I am updating it with these newer images of this street art tribute...
to Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor (links to the NAACP and change.org petitions are listed at the end of this post)
These striking murals (along with others along University Avenue) emerged after the May 30 protests in which people, not just in San Diego, but all over the U.S. took to the streets to protest against police brutality towards African Americans. Ahmaud and Breonna are just two of many Black people who were killed by cops.
Pekin Cafe restaurant and other neighboring businesses were boarded up to prevent looting, as looting occurred in downtown La Mesa, resulting in two banks being burnt down. Many of the current art that is up is in support of Black Lives Matter.
The artist for these murals at Pekin Cafe is: @JonnyPucci.
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Ahmaud Arbery, an unarmed twenty-five year old man jogging home, was chased and killed by a retired cop and his son (I won't dignify even typing their names).
Breonna Taylor was a twenty six year old EMT who was shot and killed in her own apartment by cops who broke in without a search warrant and fired away thinking they were at a drug suspect's home.
Please know that this post is not meant to trivialize their deaths. It was quite sobering walking by the storefront and seeing their faces knowing their lives were cut short. So much to think about such as systemic racism, racial profiling, and the profound lack of regard for Black lives.
More info at the end of this post
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Last year in mid-February, Bert and I were in North Park. It was around the time of Lunar New Year. We saw some Lion dancers getting out of a van. They had just danced at the Chinese laundry down the street. We ended up eating at Pekin Cafe for the last time. The restaurant has been here since 1931 and is pretty hard to miss along this row of businesses along University Ave. We read reports that the family was finally going to retire and close.
I won't write too much...You can see how old school it was inside. We ordered cream cheese filled won tons, foil wrapped chicken, sweet and sour pork, egg foo young (I never really had it before but I knew that Cathy of mmm-yoso liked it) and walnut shrimp. Service was friendly and attentive. There placed filled up quickly during our lunch stay. Many folks were trying to eat there before it closed for good as well.
Our lunch:
Not a fan of this.
One of the last old school Chinese diners in San Diego...
Previous visit to Pekin Cafe with TC:
July 2015
Articles about the closing of Pekin Cafe:
"Popular family operated...restaurant in North Park will close" NBC San Diego, Jan.3, 2019
"Peking restaurant to close after 88 years in North Park" 10 News, Dec. 24, 2018
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Please see this important link on the Change.org and NAACP websites regarding Justice for Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery:
Justice for Breonna Taylor
Justice for Ahmaud Arbery
The restaurant may be gone and the artwork may be temporary but the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor (and others) should not be in vain.
2 comments:
I read that Pekin Cafe opened in 1931....that's a really long run CC.
Right, 88 years is a long time. They had a good run
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