John Heller, Post-Gazette Singer Ebony Earth, right, takes part in a rally at the Hill District's Freedom Corner, across from the Mellon Arena. About 70 people who oppose a gaming casino coming into the Hill District of Pittsburgh gathered yesterday.

By Ervin Dyer
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Nearly 70 people showed up at Freedom Corner yesterday to pray, to offer heartfelt testimony on what they called the evils of gambling and to send a united message that they didn't want a casino in the lower Hill District.

The Speak Out and Resurrection Rally was organized by artist-activist Kimberly Ellis, a coalition of Hill District ministers and residents as well as supporters from across the city.

About 10 casino proponents also showed up, carrying their own cardboard signs and yelling that the proposed development would bring reinvestment.

Gil Berry, a local contractor and diversity consultant with the Isle of Capri Casino Inc., said "Only a few people don't want to have economic development. We need jobs up here."

Isle of Capri, one of three competitors applying for Pittsburgh's casino license, wants to develop the slots parlor in the lower Hill-Uptown area and finance construction of a new arena nearby for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The others applying for the casino license are Forest City Enterprises, which wants to build a casino at Station Square; and PITG Gaming LLC, which wants to build one near Heinz Field.

Pearlene Coleman who advocated for the casino as well, surveyed yesterday's crowd and said: "These are not Hill residents. I see five faces that I recognize."

"Sure, it's a shame to have the casino, but if it comes, we have to accentuate the positive," she said.

The Isle of Capri's plan promises that no public dollars will be used to give the Penguins a new arena and offers redevelopment to the Hill. The plan also puts a casino the closest to a residential community and in recent weeks has drawn more vocal opposition to its proposal.

The casino proponents eventually faded away as Ms. Ellis, one of the principal opposition leaders to a casino, told the crowd "we're not against development" but if it encourages addiction, crime and other social ills, we don't want it.

Robert Lavelle, owner of Dwelling House Savings and Loan in the Hill, thought that, considering the impact a casino will have on the Hill, the turnout of protesters should have been higher.

"We should have people blocking the traffic," he said. "Gambling destroys."

He reminded the crowd that if you look past the glitter in Atlantic City and Las Vegas, you'll find those areas have been blighted by gambling. "It is a tax against poor people," he said.

Hill resident Mary Young recounted a painful experience with gambling, an addiction that plagued her husband. It forced her out of her home, she needed food assistance from his parents and eventually it destroyed her marriage.

"Gambling devastates your life. We don't want people going gambling. Young people need to take their money and go home," Ms. Young said.

Former Harvard law professor and Hill native Derrick Bell, who also attended the rally, compared the legalization of gaming to slavery and Jim Crow segregation. "Just because something is legal doesn't make it right."

The drive to halt the casino may be late, he said, but it's started and "because we have started, we have won."

"Morally," said the Rev. Lee Walls of Macedonia Church, "it sends a bad signal to our children. How can we tell them not to sell drugs when we accept gambling?"

State Rep. Jake Wheatley, D-Hill, believes the rally sends a united message "that we don't want it up here. Today is a new day. ... a new day to fight this cause. We will not get discouraged."