Vigil for O'Day, Helen, Barry, and Carol-Ann Short, killed by racist terrorists in Fontana (tags)
January 23, 2016
FONTANA - A group of about 20 Fontana residents and local activists gathered yesterday evening outside of Randall Pepper Elementary School to commemorate the 1945 firebombing of the house owned by O'Day Short, an African-American targeted for racist violence for challenging white supremacy in the segregated city by daring to purchase a house on the south side of Baseline Avenue. Short, his wife Helen, and their two children Barry and Carol-Ann were all killed as a result of the December 16, 1945 firebombing. The incident, when eventually investigated, and even then only superficially, never led to any arrest or prosecution of any suspect, despite evidence pointing to death threats from the white real estate agent who sold the property and two white deputies of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.1 The vigil lasted about an hour-and-a-half, and featured words from the attendees, political discussion, and prayer.