Honoring the Legacy of Yuri Kochiyama and Andrew Hatch, Former San Pablo Hotel Residents

March 2021

East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation

45 Stories for 45 Years

Contributor: Eddie Kochiyama, Son of Yuri Kochiyama, civil rights leader and former resident of the San Pablo Hotel 

On behalf of the Kochiyama family, we want to thank the San Pablo and all the artists who created this mural to honor our mom, Mr. Andrew Hatch, as well as all the residents who have lived here. We also want to give special thanks to the Center for Elders Independence, EBALDC, Annie Ledbury, Brother Jahahara, and Derek Shavers.

We moved our mom from New York City in 1999. At first, she lived at my sister’s house, and then briefly, she lived with me and my wife. And we live just a few blocks from here. She wasn’t really keen on moving to Oakland, after living for years in Harlem. 

It didn’t take but a New York minute after she moved to the San Pablo Hotel, that then my mom found her groove. She loved the place. Because I think in some ways it reminded her of New York City. The diversity of the tenants and the staff reflected the diversity of Oakland. And she felt good being around other senior citizens, while at the same time living a life of independence. 

Soon enough, her tiny apartment, room 322, to be exact, became a meeting ground for activists from all over Oakland, all over the U.S. and even the world…Blacks, Asians, Latinos, women, artists, political prisoners, whomever was fighting the good fight. When her room became too crowded, she moved her meetings into the hallways. And if you had ever been inside her room, you couldn’t help but notice that the walls were covered with photos of family and friends, flyers and political posters, even in her bathroom. 

And it was in this very building that my mom was honored to meet Mr. Andrew Hatch, an amazing man, who lived to be 117 years old. Mr. Hatch was a man who saw so much cruelty and injustice in his life. But obviously, he also enjoyed so much love and camaraderie, for him to be the oldest man in the world. My mom was inspired by people like Mr. Hatch, she made it her life’s mission to fight against racism and inequality, and to fight for justice for all people. 

During these crazy and uncertain times, we can all honor the legacy of people like Mr. Hatch and my mom by committing ourselves to stop the hate, stop the violence in our communities, and to protect the rights of all people, especially our elders. And we could come together as one community. Thank you once again for this great honor. And Happy 45th Anniversary. Thank you. 

As told during the San Pablo Hotel Mural Story Sharing Event, Friday, February 26, 2021

As EBALDC marks our 45th anniversary, we will be gathering more stories like this one from our friends, family, community members, partners and more stakeholders that have made our impact possible. We would be honored for you to join us:

  • Follow us on social media: @EBALDC

 

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