Jan 13, 2008 12:27 pm US/Central
Renewal Begins In Arlington With Landscape Project
Volunteers Come To Help Target Of Hate Crimes
ARLINGTON (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
Dozens of volunteers from around North Texas turned out Saturday to help an Arlington couple landscape their home after it was spray painted with racist grafitti last month.
"We came over here for help and for healing," one volunterr said. "To put some muscle and shoe leather with our prayer."
Blue tarp still hangs over the garage doors that were defaced last month with racial slurs.
On Saturday, volunteers spent hours in the dirt and on hands and knees planting grass and flowers in the front yard in an effort to restore beauty to this home.
"With the installation of all the sod and the grass, it's basically symbolic of regeneration," homeowner Broderick Gamble said of the project.
Gamble first discovered the graffiti on Dec. 21, two days after his girlfriend , Silk Littlejohn, was hit in the face with a two-by-four. Police arrested 66-year-old Grace Head for allegedly committing the hate crime that has left Littlejohn in the hospital for weeks.
It's a regeneration those who spent their weekend said their participation made them proud.
"We just hope our presence here will speak volumes for people who are of goodwill," pastor L.R. Davis said.
The house should be ready for Gamble and his finace, Silk Little john who was attacked by a soon-to-be-neighbor in December, to move-into by spring -- just in time for the new flowers in their bed to bloom.
Gamble first discovered the graffiti on Dec. 21, two days after his girlfriend , Silk Littlejohn, was hit in the face with a 2x4 piece of lumber. Police arrested 66-year-old Grace Head for allegedly committing the hate crime that has left Littlejohn in the hospital for weeks.
"It's definately a renewal in mankind; to know that there are people who woud step outside themselves do something for a fellow human regardless of race, color or creed," volunteer Jacqueline Hill added.
The final step in Saturday's effort was the planting of a shade tree, which symbolizes a new beginning for this family and faith for a better and stronger Arlington.
"I'm just so grateful that the metroplex community was able to come together and help us out in these trying times," Gamble said.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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