Tarnel Abbott
Tarnel Abbott | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1953 Richmond, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Librarian, activist, artist |
| Years active | Retired (librarian) |
| Known for | Advocacy for free expression, environmental activism, intellectual freedom |
Tarnel Abbott (born 1953) is a librarian, activist, and advocate for free expression based in Richmond, California. She is a direct descendant of Jack London, her great-grandfather. Abbott is deeply involved in local political initiatives and environmental preservation.
Activism
As a retired reference librarian from the Richmond, California Library, Tarnel Abbott has utilized her position to champion intellectual freedom. In recognition of her community engagement, including organizing a film series in collaboration with the ACLU and curating exhibits featuring banned books, she was honored with the California Library Association's Zoia Horn Intellectual Freedom Award in 2006.[1] Abbott played a pivotal role in persuading the Richmond, California City Council to adopt a resolution opposing the PATRIOT Act, aimed at safeguarding library patron records from government monitoring.[2] She has also taken part in delegations to Richmond’s sister city, Regla, Cuba, where she helped coordinate an exhibition showcasing over 100 artworks that celebrate the city’s Afro-Cuban industrial roots.[2] Abbott frequently joins community demonstrations at Chevron USA’s headquarters in San Ramon and actively resists casino development projects, promoting instead a shift toward a green economy.
She holds a position on the council of the Zeneca / Former Stauffer Chemical Company Community Advisory Group.[3]
In addition to her activism, Abbott is an accomplished artist who produces displays and dioramas that highlight Richmond’s industrial contamination and the Tent Cities Movement. Her artistic contributions have been acknowledged by local communities.[4] She stands against proposed developments on the site of the former Point Molate Naval Fuel Depot.[5]
Family
Abbott is married to Robert Fowler, who cultivates palm trees. As an enthusiast and historian of her great-grandfather Jack London, she is committed to preserving factual accuracy in her narratives. Both she and London attended the University of California, Berkeley.
Notes
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedcalibass - ↑ 2.0 2.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedhonor - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedzeneca - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedart - ↑ San Jose Mercury News