A community celebration has turned into a call for justice after a special bench dedicated to the disabled community was stolen from behind the Maya Angelou Library in south Stockton, just weeks after its installation.

The ivy-green bench, honoring famed disability rights advocate Helen Keller, was unveiled in late June during a ceremony attended by local dignitaries, community leaders, and members of the San Joaquin Lions Club. Now, the bench is gone without a trace.

"I couldn't believe it," said Jennifer Gass, a leader of the San Joaquin Lions Club and an advocate for the blind community. "Who would do this to our disabled people, to our library? It's really discouraging."

Gass, who has been blind for years, helped spearhead the project through the Lions Club's "Bags for Benches" init

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