Ted Hayes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ted Hayes is an American advocate for the homeless and an activist for the Republican Party.
Hayes' activism began in January 1985, when Justiceville, a community of homeless people in Los Angeles, was founded. It survived for five months, until authorities moved to shut down the shantytown. When they did, Hayes entered 35-day fast in protest.[1]
In 1993 he founded Dome Village, a Los Angeles homeless facility consisting of geodesic domes designed by architect Craig Chamberlain and funded by ARCO. In the mid-1990s, he organized a youth- and homeless cricket team that toured Ireland and England and inspired an opera. At the 2000 Democratic National Convention, Hayes, who was leading a contingent of homelessness activists, was shot with a rubber bullet by police.[2] In 2001 he ran unsuccessfully for the Los Angeles City Council seat of the 9th district. After the September 11 terrorist attacks, he was criticized by Muslim leaders for his role in persuading the Los Angeles City Council to pass a resolution demanding that Muslims take a stronger stance against global terrorism.[3] Recently, he has become a vocal critic of illegal immigration, joining the Minutemen Project at protests and staging his own.[4] There was an altercation at an anti-illegal immigration rally at Leimert Park organized by Hayes.[5]
He has founded several organizations, including the Black Elephants, a group of Black Republicans, and the Crispus Attucks Brigade, an African-American anti-illegal immigration group. The Crispus Attucks Brigade, named for an African American man who was the first victim of the Boston Massacre, includes "some of the founders of the Crips and the Bloods back in the day."[6]
Hayes is a supporter of President George W. Bush's foreign policy. He is also critical of critics of Black Republicans, who he says are "vigorously vilified by Democrats".[7]
Hayes is known for being a colorful character, often wearing American flags as part of his dress, and a yarmulke, "because Jesus was a Jew"[8]. He is also known for being an advanced inline skater, rollerblading through skid row and Venice Beach.
His daughter Joanna Hayes is an Olympic gold medalist, and his son Theo is the co-coach of the cricket team.[9]
[edit] References
- ^ Justiceville/Homeless, USA Board of directors. "About Justiceville/Homeless, USA". accessed 2006-06-02
- ^ Welch, Matt. "Cops shoot homeless hero Ted Hayes: Rubber bullet to the chest of man who organized event to prevent violence". NEWSFORCHANGE, 2000-08-15
- ^ Stewart, Jill. "Rasta Republican Meet Los Angeles's Ted Hayes. He's black, dreadlocked--and belongs to the GOP". Wall Street Journal, 2005-04-28.
- ^ "Black Activists Join To March With Minutemen". CBS2.com, 2006-04-23.
- ^ "Leimert Park Protest Organizer Apologizes". CBS2.com, 2006-04-24.
- ^ Martinez, Michael. "An urban `Moses' for the destitute sides with the Minutemen" Myrtle Beach Online, originally published by the Chicago Tribune, 2006-06-12.
- ^ Hayes, Ted. Prejudice: Black Republicans should be able to live without fear. Wall Street Journal, 2006-02-01.
- ^
- ^ "Joanna Hayes". USA Track and Field. accessed 2006-06-02.
