Residents of Visitacion Valley in San Francisco made sure the great grandmother who died one year after being beaten at a city playground will never be forgotten.
The city this weekend renamed the park Yik Oi Huang Peace and Friendship Park in honor of the 88 year old.
Her name means abundant love in Chinese and CBS San Francisco reports her granddaughter Diana Yee led chants of “Yik Oi” during the ceremony.
“Abundant love has been the theme,” she said. “(The renaming) is a big step towards healing, for sure.”
Police called the 2019 beating unprovoked. The great grandmother exercised at the park daily.
Neighbors and the community wanted the park renamed to promote both healing and resilience. ABC7 reports the idea for honoring her came from Ronald Colthirst, a community activist who has worked hard to bring together the Asian and African American community.
Colthirst died last year but his relatives were on hand to see through his wish.
“One of his legacies was to make sure we renamed this park,” said sister Brejea Colthirst.
City leaders including Mayor London Breed joined the official renaming ceremony and called it a “symbol of hope, resilience.”
“It’s been a very hard journey, very painful but also very beautiful,” said granddaughter Sasanna Yee.
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Hats Off for the people who worked long and hard to bring this idea to fruition. Well Done.