Kymone Freeman, co-owner of We Act Radio, is leading an effort to transform a 2,400-square-foot space in Southeast Washington's Anacostia neighborhood into a bookstore to honor a slain journalist. The Washington Post reported that the shop would be named the Charnice Milton Community Bookstore, "in honor of the 27-year-old journalist fatally shot two years ago in Southeast. Police say Milton was on her way home from covering a community meeting and wasn't the intended target. No arrests have been made in the case."
Estimating that he will need to raise $180,000 for the project, Freeman said the bookstore will focus on African American authors and will incorporate a social justice mission. It would be housed in the basement of the We Act Radio studios. Thousands of donated books have been collected to sell at the store, although the organizers eventually hope to sell new as well as used books.
"Books are the most transformative thing," Freeman said. "If you can match the kid with the right book, it can change them."
Milton's father, Ken McClenton, said, "I see this bookstore as mere justice, not just social justice. This is a tribute to what a person can do when the world comes against it. They can overcome it. Even in death, Charnice was not a victim--she was a conqueror."
At a ceremony announcing the bookstore last month, representatives from nonprofits, including Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, and D.C. police attended to show support, the Post wrote, adding that Trayon White, who represents Ward 8 on the D.C. Council, said the bookstore "will show the value of education and literacy in our community. It's an excellent idea that we should all support. We can take something really sad and make it positive for the community."
Freeman is currently planning fundraisers while pitching developers on building in the neighborhood. He also hopes for a financial boost from city leaders.