Crime
West County Supporters Host Fundraiser for District Attorney Becton
West County Friends for Diana Becton hosted a fundraiser on Saturday for the re-election campaign of Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton.

West County Friends for Diana Becton hosted a fundraiser on Saturday for the re-election campaign of Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton. Attending the fundraiser at Lara’s Fine Dining in the Richmond Marin were elected, business, and community leaders from El Cerrito, Hercules, Pinole, Richmond, and San Pablo.
Legislative staffer Uche J. Uwahemu introduced Becton at the fundraiser. “This lady has power. Yet she is still down to earth. She works for the people,” he said.
Becton said this election is going to be a fight, and she will be ready. She went on to list three pages of accomplishments, including diversion programs for youth, interventions for drug offenders and special operations to get the most dangerous criminals off the street. She ended by leading attendees in the chant “Fired Up, Ready to Go.”
Real estate broker Joe L. Fisher was the lead fundraiser. “We raised over $10,000.00 in 10 minutes. I want to thank everyone who helped make this fundraiser a great success,” said Fisher.
Becton is the first African American and first female to serve as district attorney for Contra Costa County. Supporters can donate to Becton’s re-election campaign online at https://www.dianabecton.com.
The West County Friends for Diana Becton are East Bay MUD Director Lesa McIntosh; real estate broker Joe L. Fisher; businessman Jake Sloan, Richmond Chamber of Commerce, legislative staffer Uche J. Uwahemu; El Cerrito Mayor Pro Tem Gabriel Quinto; political consultant Eric Zell; and Attorney Mister Phillips.
The Richmond Post’s coverage of local news in Contra Costa County is supported by the Ethnic Media Sustainability Initiative, a program created by California Black Media and Ethnic Media Services to support community newspapers across California.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of June 18 – 24, 2025
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of June 18 – 24, 2025

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Activism
Learning Life’s Lessons
Since his release over five years ago, Richard has committed himself to making a difference, particularly by reaching out to women and families who lack the presence of a father or husband. He knows he cannot undo the years lost behind prison walls, but he is determined to use his past to build a better future for others. His story mirrors that of many who have walked a similar path. Yet, it remains uniquely his own – a testament to the power of change, resilience, and the belief that even from tragedy, something good can emerge.

“California’s three-strike laws gave me 2 life sentences for drug possession. After serving 28 years, mostly in solitary confinement, I am free to lead a movement to get the formerly incarcerated to give back.”
By Richard Johnson
I have written this book in hopes of being able to help others from not traveling down the path that leads to imprisonment or a cemetery. At the very beginning of writing this book, it began as a message to my son Fati Yero Gaidi, who was only two years old at the time that I was given two life sentences in prison for drug possession, under the newly implemented three-strikes-you-out law. The more that I wrote, the book began to evolve beyond its intended purpose for my son; it became something that any and everyone could utilize on their separate journeys through life challenges that we encounter. The book helped me put my thoughts, reasoning, perceptions, and views on display, while opening doors that, for the most part, were closed. The book can be purchased via Amazon. Learning life lessons.
About the Author
By Post staff
Richard “Razor” Johnson, 74, is a man whose life journey is marked by hard-earned wisdom, redemption, and an unshakable commitment to guiding the next generation. Once sentenced to life under California’s Three Strikes Law, he was released through what he calls nothing short of divine intervention. His time behind bars, particularly in Pelican Bay State Prison, gave him a new raw and unfiltered understanding of life’s hardest truths.
With the realization that time is precious and the future is shaped by the lessons we learn, Richard writes with urgency and purpose. His book—a 300-page labor of love—is dedicated to young men who may not have a father to teach them the meaning of life’s most important words. Through definitions filled with wisdom, experience, and deep personal insight, he offers direction to those who find themselves lost, just as he once was.
Since his release over five years ago, Richard has committed himself to making a difference, particularly by reaching out to women and families who lack the presence of a father or husband. He knows he cannot undo the years lost behind prison walls, but he is determined to use his past to build a better future for others. His story mirrors that of many who have walked a similar path. Yet, it remains uniquely his own – a testament to the power of change, resilience, and the belief that even from tragedy, something good can emerge.
His words are not just lessons; they are a call to action. He hopes that by investing in young minds with wisdom and insight, they will be better equipped to navigate life’s trials, learn from their mistakes, and find their path to success. Richard “Razor” Johnson writes not just to be heard, but to help – because he knows firsthand that sometimes guidance can make all the difference.
Post publishers Paul and Gay Cobb visited Johnson in San Quentin and attended his graduation while he was in prison. He became a columnist with the Post News Group and has continued his advocacy for the formerly incarcerated by urging them to “give something back”. Johnson says he will be speaking at prisons, colleges, and media outlets to help organize voter registration and community service projects.
Activism
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