At around 6:30 Wednesday morning, African-American Cultural Center Executive Director Trayvon Jackson says he was awakened by a neighbor who called to report disturbing behavior at the building.

“Eyewitnesses had seen a man acting erratically, throwing bricks,” Jackson said. “It was a Caucasian male who was unidentifiable beyond that.”

What You Need To Know


  • At around 6:30 Wednesday morning, a neighbor called police to report a man acting suspiciously outside Albany's African American Cultural Center

  • Upon arrival, the center's director says he found a broken window and a brick inside

  • Founded in 2012, the center offers workshops and classes to highlight the African American experience

After arriving at the Pearl Street location a short time later, Jackson says he discovered a shattered front window and a rock and brick inside.

“It starts with fear and danger,” Jackson said. “Please understand: This is dangerous. This could have killed someone.”

 

Along with the vandalism, Jackson says several items were stolen and a cryptic message was left behind.

“We noticed on our front door on the inside the message was written ‘I hit you’ to ensure that we understood what was going on,” Jackson said mid-Wednesday morning.

When contacted again later in the afternoon, Jackson said police investigators determined the message may have actually spelled out “I hate you.”

Formed in 2012, the cultural center offers multiple floors of studio space and runs free workshops, classes and cooking demonstrations that celebrate African American culture.

“Our only goal is providing a safe place for people who have been disadvantaged to exist in their fullest and most loving form,” Jackson said. “That is it.”

Despite sitting in the middle of where this past weekend’s protests occurred, Jackson says the building was untouched until Wednesday.

“That is because the people that live in this neighborhood know this building, know the work we do, know the Juneteenth celebrations,” Jackson said. “We’re aware this was no one from this community.”

After a visit by Mayor Kathy Sheehan, Jackson says Albany Police showed up in the afternoon to begin a criminal investigation. With that work ongoing, he says staff and volunteers are already working together to clean up the mess left behind.

“We take this very seriously as an act of violence,” Jackson said. “We hope that the community knows regardless of how scared this may make them, regardless of what fear this may look like, we are here standing watch and this will not stop us.”

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