Cleveland community activist Khalid Samad passes away...By Clevelandurbannews.com, Ohio's Black digital news leader
Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com CLEVELAND, Ohio – Longtime Cleveland community activist Khalid Samad has died. He was 73 and died peacefully on Mon., March 16. Samad began his activism alongside the late activist Omar Ali- Bey. He co-founded Peace in the Hood and A Coalition for a Better Life , groups he utilized to help curb gang and other violence in Cleveland's public schools and on the city streets. He later served as assistant director to the safety director with the administration of then-mayor Jane Campbell. Activist Alfred Porter Jr. of Black on Black Crime said Samad was a grassroots activist in the truest sense. "He was an example of what a man should do to protect the community, and he understood the community," said Porter. City Council President Blaine Griffin said Samad will be missed and submitted the following statement: “I am heartbroken to share in the loss of my dear friend and brother, Khalid Samad. Khalid wasn’t j...