Yesterday, Johannes Mehserle, the former BART police officer who shot and killed 22-year-old Oscar Grant, was released on bail.
Hundreds protested outside of the bail hearing while police, in customary OPD fashion, reportedly shot rubber bullets into the crowd.
Also at the bail hearing, Mehserle's attorney shed light onto what will likely be the officer's primary legal defense: that he accidently shot Grant with his pistol, intending instead to use his taser. According to this theory, Grant's death is a tragic accident, not a cold-blooded murder.
Mehserle is reported to have given several contradictory statements after the shooting, including the oft-used "I thought he was going for a gun."
The Chronicle reported yesterday that the investigation into Grant's murder has been plagued by errors, many of which point to an attempted cover-up by the officers involved.
Last week, KTVU aired yet another video that shows a different officer viciously punch Grant in the face moments before Meserhele shot him as he lay face down on a BART platform.
The agency recently announced that it will hire an outside agency to investigate if other officers should be charged.
Organizers have called for a mass demonstration outside of Oakland City Hall tonight, January 31, at 6pm.
Here's a terrible way to start off the New Year --
Oscar Grant III, an unarmed 22-year-old black man, was shot and killed early on New Year's morning by an officer from the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) police force in Oakland.
The murder occurred just after 2 am at the Fruitvale BART station. Apparently, trains headed toward the East Bay were stopped so officers could respond to a reported fight on one of the trains. A group of young men of color were handcuffed -- without incident -- and berated by police. In the video, Grant is not one of the men handcuffed.
What makes this so shocking is that the entire incident was caught on tape. In the video posted below, Grant is seen cooperating with officers as they tackle him to the ground. While Grant lays on his stomach, an officer sitting on top of him -- for no apparent reason -- pulls out of a gun and shoots him in the back. Grant was taken to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
(The shooting occurs at 2:34)
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Based on a report that cites an eyewitness account and sources close to the investigation, the officer may have accidently shot Grant, mistaking his firearm for a taser gun.
According to another reported eye witness, Grant was heard pleading for his life shortly before he was shot, saying, "Please don't tase me, please don't shoot me, I have a daughter."
BART police are still investigating, the officer involved has yet to be named publicly and Grant's family is in the beginning stages of filing a multi-million dollar civil suit.
In the mean time, here are five things you can do help:
Digg the story so that the national media can pick up on it.
Contact BART Director Carole Ward Allen and demand that 1) the officers involved be taken off duty without pay and charged and fully prosecuted; 2) there be an independent investigation of the shooting that includes a review of training and hiring practices; and 3) BART establish an independent residents’ review board for the police Call her at 510-464-6095 or email the BART Directors at BoardofDirectors@bart.gov
Call the BART police to complain about the officers’ conduct and demand immediate action: Internal Affairs: Sergeant David Chlebowski 510.464.7029,dchlebo@bart.gov; Chief of Police: Gary Gee 510.464.7022, ggee@bart.gov
Call them toll free at 877.679.7000 and press the last four digits of the phone number you wish to reach.
Talk it up on your blogs, networks and talk radio shows (call Michael Baisden 877-6BADBOY or Rev. Al, etc. to get this on the national radar)
Stay tuned for other actions, protests, etc., especially if you are in the Bay.
Anyone who's seen Rebel Diaz perform on stage or in the community know that they're easily one of the most powerful forces in hip-hop right now.
And maybe the cops know that too.
This week two of the groups members were assaulted and arrested after coming to the aide of a street vendor who cops were interrogating. The following video is everything you might expect from a situation like this -- powerful, disturbing, angering and -- at times -- awe inspiring. Young folks in the Bronx are mobilizing against police brutality and it's a beautiful thing.
Way to go for the US Postal Service, now if only the rest of the nation recognized the work of Latinos and Latinas in the US.
During his career as a journalist, Salazar covered issues closest to him, his Mexican American community and the ongoing Chicano movement. He is recognized as one of the first journalists at the Los Angeles Times to cover issues pertinent to the Latino community in a comprehensive/unbiased manner.
He was killed on August 29, 1970 while covering the National Chicano Moratorium March. While seeking refuge from tear gas that was used by the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department to break up the protest, Salazar was shot in the head in short-range by a tear gas cannon.
Click here to read an LA Times Opinion about the stamp's unveiling.
Click here to read an award-winning essay by a high school student about Salazar's legacy.
Last week Reverend Lennox Yearwood from the Hip Hop Caucus waited outside the doors of the Petraeus hearing to get in. The policy repeatedly denied him entry while allowing others to enter. Rev. Yearwood began to question the officers about why he was not being allowed into a public hearing. Multiple officers then tackled him to the ground and arrested him. The entire time Rev. Yearwood is not resisting and many people around him are yelling at the police to stop and saying he is a peaceful man. If you do a google search you'll find Democracy Now!, some independent media sources and blogs reporting on the incident. Here is the You Tube video:
On Monday, a University of Florida student attended a speech by John Kerry. The student was given the opportunity to ask a question at the end of the speech. Right before he went up to the podium he gave a camera to his friend to record the question. After a minute of simply talking to Kerry he was asked by a police officer to finish his statement; his time was up. The student then yelled "I'm going to ask my question." and continued to go on and on. Finally, two officers began to escort him out. He then began yelling and resisting. He became so out of control that he was tasered. If you do a google search on this story you will see it in almost every major newspaper and on the front page of many today. Here is the video:
Before you read any further, please watch both of those videos. What do you notice about these two? Any striking differences besides the fact that one is a black man and the other white?
Does it look like the white boy is putting on a show to anyone else? The paper also mentioned that the student "has a history of chronicling his public hijinks". I can't begin to express my anger right now. Not only did a white boy trying to cause trouble make the front page, but a well-respected Reverend who did nothing wrong has his civil liberties violated and it is ignored by all major forms of media. People are talking about the "police brutality" at University of Florida. WTF!!!! I agree that they should not have tasered the U of F student, but who gets coverage is just ridiculous. Jena 6 happened over a year ago and major news sources have only picked up the story in recent months.
The vigil for Victoria was just postponed. It will take place ONE WEEK from today. Today's demonstration will focus on the recent deportation of Elvira Arellano which occurred yesterday at La Placita Church.
Elvira had been on a speaking tour of churches to raise awareness for the New Sanctuary Movement. She was leaving the church with her young son when ICE agents surrounded her and her car. She asked for a moment with her son, who remains in the US, and then she went with the federal agents to the Federal Building where she was subsequently deported the same night to Tijuana.
Tonight's vigil will be another in the long struggle for human rights and dignity against oppressive immigration laws. Elvira Arellano, as well asVictoria, highlight a system that has no regard for human life, nor demonstrates dignity and respect each human being. Radio pundits, federal spokespersons and wedge driving politicians will proclaim that laws were broken and the law must be upheld.
People who cherish freedom, civil and human rights and still believe in a system of justice understand that laws should be based on reality and compassion. Laws are man-made and can be re-made to reflect justice, humanity and fairness. We say laws that allow mothers to be separated from their children and laws that allow the denial of life-giving medication are unjust, inhumane and should be changed. We demand that change.
Thisvideois a bit dated, but I hadn't come acrossituntilnow, and I definitelyfeltlikeitwasworthknowingabout. Ifyouchoosetowatchit, pleaseheedthetitleofthis post...
August 20, 2005: youngwomanisheldtothegroundandtaseredat a counter-recruitment demonstrationinPittsburgh, PA. Anolderwomanisbittenby a policedogandthenarrested. Two smallchildren are pepper-sprayedandan M.S. patientistoppledinhismotorizedscooter. Seehttp://www.organizepittsburgh.orgfordetailsaboutthedemonstration.
