Black activists plan Clinton protest in Harlem

by SARA KUGLER

Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK (AP) - A group of black activists plan to protest former President Clinton's future office space in Harlem, calling it the last step toward a ''white takeover'' in the historic black neighborhood.

The demonstrations are scheduled to begin Friday in front of Clinton's new office on 125th Street - Harlem's main thoroughfare. Led by the New Black Panther Party, the mission of the demonstrations is to ''expose and fight against the gentrification currently existing in Harlem,'' according to a statement released by the group Tuesday.

''There's been a groundswell of black people in Harlem who look at Bill Clinton's arrival in Harlem not as something to celebrate but something to get sad about,'' said Craig Muhammad, a spokesman for the protests.

Muhammad said Clinton's move to Harlem is part of a real estate wave that has pushed prices up and longtime residents out.

''There's been a steady erosion of black participation in Harlem,'' he said.

Clinton chose the 14th-floor office space in a newly renovated building after facing fierce criticism for trying to rent more expensive space in midtown Manhattan for an estimated $800,000 a year. He has not yet moved into the space, and plans to sign the lease within the week, according to his spokeswoman, Julia Payne.

Clinton's decision to move to the historic black neighborhood was largely well-received by residents and local politicians when the plan was announced in February.

Throughout his term, the former president enjoyed consistently high opinion poll numbers with black voters.

Last week NAACP president Kweisi Mfume presented Clinton with the President's Award, and credited him with improving the lives of blacks during his eight years in office.

Muhammad said the idea that Clinton has been a friend to blacks is one that's ''all relative,'' compared to past presidents' relationships with blacks.

''It isn't so much that he has done a lot - he has done very little for black people,'' Muhammad said. ''Our spirit has been crushed so much so that when anybody gives us any attention, we just go nuts.''

In the statement, New Black Panther Party Spokesman Malik Zulu Shabazz called Clinton's presence in Harlem ''the final gateway towards full gentrification, a white takeover and the destruction of black Harlem as we know and love it.''

Payne, Clinton's spokeswoman, declined to comment on the protests.

The group plans to protest Friday afternoon, followed by a town hall meeting to address the issue. Another protest is planned for Monday, April 16.

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2001