By Sean Yoes
AFRO Staff Writer
As the manhunt for the murderer of former Baltimore City Councilman Ken Harris Sr. intensified this week, so did the outpouring of grief and anger over the loss of a man remembered as a great public servant, loving family man and a role model for young men.
Thousands gathered during the course of the week at two public viewings, a memorial service and a rally in honor of Harris who was gunned down last Saturday during a robbery at the New Haven Lounge at the Northwood Shopping Center in Northeast Baltimore.
The funeral, at the Murphy Fine Arts Center on the campus of Morgan State University—Harris’s alma mater—was attended by thousands and a legion of Maryland political figures including Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, former Gov. Robert Ehrlich, members of the Baltimore City Council and the Maryland General Assembly.
“He was an outstanding public servant, family man—a Black man committed to making his community better -- there are not many of us left,” lamented Sen. Nathaniel McFadden who represents the 45th Legislative District of Baltimore City. Tears streamed down the veteran senator’s face during Wednesday night’s rally at the scene of Harris’s murder as McFadden reflected on the former councilman’s career which he watched evolve and helped guide.
“He was—he and Keiffer [Mitchell] and Bernard “Jack” Young—were part of a new vanguard. We put a lot of work, effort and faith in these guys to take us to another level and it’s just so tragic and unfortunate that his life is snuffed out at a place where he spent a lot of time trying to make things better.”
Keith Covington, the owner of the New Haven Lounge who was ambushed with Harris at the venerable Baltimore jazz club, was also a close friend. He attended the rally at Northwood and still seemed dazed by the tragic events of last Saturday.
The Harris children – Nicole and Kenneth Jr. - at the Murphy Fine Arts Center after the funeral of their father. (Photo by J.D. Harris)
“I don’t know anything more than when it happened,” said Covington who is said to have pursued the four gunmen and fired shots at them. They fled the lounge dressed in dark clothing and wearing masks. Police believe the suspects in the Harris murder may have robbed the Haven back in July and a nearby gas station earlier in the summer.
“Homicide detectives have not called me; they have not contacted me since Saturday. They say that they are analyzing videotape. That’s all I know,” said Covington.
One of Harris’s contemporaries—former Baltimore City Councilman Keiffer Mitchell Jr.—said that Harris was extremely dedicated to his work, but more dedicated to his family.
“We would have committee meetings or we would have voting sessions and some people would get on him for missing a vote here or there. But the reason he would miss a vote was not because of work, but because he was going to an event that Nicole (Harris’s daughter) was having or he was going to Kenny Jr.’s football game or baseball game or something like that,” said Mitchell who served on the city council with Harris.
“…an outstanding public servant, family man—a Black man committed to making his community better.”
Praise for Harris and condolences for his family also came from members of the U.S. Congress.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Kenneth Harris’s family during this tragic time of loss,” said U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland’s 7th Congressional District in a statement. “Councilman Harris was both a colleague and a very good man whom I was proud to consider my friend.”
U.S. Sen. Benjamin Cardin made a statement from the floor of the Senate earlier this week honoring Harris.
“While on the City Council, Ken championed the rights of constituents. He sponsored legislation to stop landlords from throwing tenants’ belongings on the street. He pushed for remedial programs in Baltimore City schools, he took the police to task for not doing an effective job of community policing,” said Cardin.
Current talk show host and former state Sen. Clarence Mitchell IV, a colleague and friend of Harris echoed the sentiments of his cousin Keiffer Mitchell—for Harris it was always family first.
“He had just given his daughter away to be married, he had just taken his son to College Park to be enrolled,” said former state Sen. Mitchell.
“He was in those little league meetings, he was president of the PTA over at Leith Walk (elementary school). He was president of his community association. Whatever a father does to raise his kids and provide for his wife and family that’s what he did.”
Harris constantly worked with young Black men, whether it was his son, or coaching little league baseball, or in 2005 when he founded “Bridge to Manhood,” a program that brings successful Black men into the schools as mentors and visible role models.
But perhaps Harris was the best role model of them all for young Black boys. He was raised by a loving single mother in a poor, fatherless home in Park Heights. He represented what a Black man can achieve and accomplish despite adverse beginnings.
“I feel that Ken Harris was the most committed councilperson during his eight years on the Baltimore City Council,” said Wayne Frazier Sr., president of the Maryland Washington Minority Contractors Association.
“I respected him as a committed community leader and a loving family figure. I’m devastated that this happened and maybe, just maybe, a loving figure like Ken will stir up and wake up the community that this has to be stopped. Hopefully, his death isn’t in vain.”
Unfortunately, despite scouring the neighborhood surrounding the Northwood Shopping Center with up to 20 Baltimore City police detectives who also handed out fliers seeking information this week, there have been very few new leads generated thus far and no arrests made.
“If they don’t come forward then everyone has to pay a price for that,” said Baltimore City Police Lt. Col. Rick Hite who attended the Northwood rally. “We have to send a message to folks that this can’t be tolerated. Because Ken’s life was one where he spent his time working with youngsters trying to build lives and change lives of those who have committed crimes.”
Some hope Harris’s murder will ultimately energize the Northwood community and other communities throughout the city.
“I think this has galvanized communities throughout this city to really do something about the problems that we have with violence,” McFadden said.
But there is still great anger over the loss of a great public servant, devoted family man and mentor to many.
“I went from shock to grief to anger—I am angry—I want these guys found and I want them dealt with. That’s where my spirit is right now,” said Clarence Mitchell IV. “Because they took one of the bricks in the wall,” he added.
“When I was coming up my father used to say there were men before him that talked about that wall that stood between the community and outside forces. And each man—true men—represented a brick. Ken was one of those bricks.”
Harris leaves his wife of 23 years Annette, his daughter Nicole and his son Kenneth Jr.
AFRO Staff Writer Alan King provided additional reporting for this story.