York Dispatch - York Today -
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Published on: 3/30/2006
Last Visited: 3/31/2006
But it was all in a day's work for York City activist Jerri Zimmerman.
And she's been working in the community for 20 years.
Zimmerman's years of service will be observed with a celebration gathering 5 to 8 p.m. tomorrow at the Community Resource Center, 327 Reinecke Place in York City.
"We're hoping that people will come shake her hand and say some good things to Jerri because she's been around a long time and did some good things," said city resident Deborah Pugh, who organized the celebration.
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"Jerri is a wonderful and wise lady."
For two decades, Zimmerman, 66, has been organizing marches, block watches and neighborhood programs and confronting drug dealers in an effort to fight against drug activity and crime.
She's also gone to court to testify against those she has witnessed committing crimes.
Faced retaliation: While there are residents who appreciate Zimmerman's work, several drug dealers have retaliated against her.She even had to get hospital treatment a decade ago after a dealer hit her with his pickup truck as she crossed a street.When she tried to get away he struck her again.
Zimmerman's crime-fighting activities started when she lived on the 300 block of West Princess Street, where Mark's Tavern was located.
The neighborhood was getting worse with fights, vandalism and drug dealing done by people who frequented the bar.Neighbors talked with police, called 911, held marches and had meetings with tavern owners.
"It was a war," Zimmerman said."I would get so frustrated and confront the drug dealers.I'd yell at the drug dealers with a bull horn."
After about five years of neighborhood anti-crime activities, the bar closed in 1992.
But Zimmerman realized her work against crime wasn't done.
"I seen it going into other neighborhoods," she said."It's like a cancer.It spreads, so you just have to keep going.You can't stop for one minute."
Zimmerman said that she's had lots of help over the years from crime-fighting partners who have become close friends, including York City councilwoman Toni Smith, city resident Jim Tompkins and Pugh, also a block watch captain on North Duke Street.
Praise from councilwoman: Smith said Zimmerman was instrumental in the closing of Rose's Tavern five years ago.
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Zimmerman reported her findings to the police and the state Liquor Control Board.
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As a community resource assistant with the York City Police, Zimmerman works at the Community Resource Center, where she gives residents information for city services, for legal aid and for filing civil complaints.
She also is a YWCA community mobilizer who reports properties in disrepair in the Olde Towne East Neighborhood.And she runs an after-school program for city youths.
"I'm going to keep going until I'm called to that big place in the sky where the activists go," she said.
Celebration The public is invited to attend a celebration event to honor Jerri Zimmerman, a long-time York City activist.
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