Oakland police shooting: 5 things you can do!

[j r]

See below for accounts from CA and the bottom has ways to take action...

jake
--------------------

loved ones afar,



if you haven't already heard, this is what's poppin' off in oakland right

now -- i couldn't make it to the protest this afternoon at the BART station where this young man was shot on new year's day, but the protest came to me instead as i was in my office working late in downtown oakland, as helicopters hovered above and police sirens sounded and screams filled the air, and the anger erupted right outside my window.  below is some of the news coverage, the raw video of the murder, and some of my thoughts.



love,

lailan



* * * * *

if you haven't watched the footage caught at BART of the whole incident

already, it's f*ckin' intense:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlfNNiwoa_E&feature=related



there are no accidents here.



the collection of black and brown bodies to 'maintain order' is not an

accident. the dehumanizing detention and abuse of our people in public, everyday, is not an accident. a young white police man's lack of training and fear of black people is not an accident. the hiring of white men not from our community to police us is not an accident.



there is only anger here.



here in my belly as i watch the video caught on someone's camera phone, as crowds of people watched this murder in shock and disbelief and dissent. here in this country where young black men are shot in the back on a regular basis, where trigger-trained cops and their departments are never, ever held accountable. here in this city where oscar grant worked as a butcher to take care of his daughter, in this town where young people are buried at a faster rate than elders pass on, here, all that lingers is a desire to smash something, to yell loudly into the still cold air. 



there is power here.



there is the people taking back the power to tell the world the truth here. there is myspace and youtube and camera phones to tell our own stories now. there is the impact of seeing, like rodney king, that forces us to re-connect, again. there is power in our re-connecting to injustice in intimate and visceral ways again, in knowing again the pain in our bodies of news stories we had become numb to.



1.7.09

oakland, CA

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlfNNiwoa_E&feature=related>



fyi, some action steps & news coverage below...

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/01/03/18558098.php

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/east_bay&id=6592357

http://cbs5.com/local/oscar.grant.funeral.2.902090.html



---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: cesar a. cruz <cesar at oaklandleaf.org>

Date: Wed, Jan 7, 2009 at 10:52 PM

Subject: Video of Oakland Protests & 5 Things YOU Can Do



Click on the second video on the left side when you get to this page:



http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/BART-Officer-Getting-Death-Threats.html



This is the video link in case you want to add to your sites (myspace,

websites, etc.)



*5 Things You Can Do Right Now About the Oscar Grant Shooting*



Mon 9:36am



Mad props to Davey and Jabari for putting us on to this and getting the conversation started:



*1. Digg the story so that the national media can pick up on it (Thanks, Jabari For this link):*

http://digg.com/world_news/Oakland_Police_Officer_Shoots_Unarmed_Man_Handcuffed_Man

or

http://digg.com/world_news/Oakland_Police_Officer_Shoots_Unarmed_Man_Handcuffed_Man?OTC-em-st1



*2. Contact BART Director Carole Ward Allen and demand that* *1)* the officers involved be taken off duty without pay and charged and fully prosecuted;  there be an independent investigation of the shooting that includes a review of training and hiring practices; and BART establish an independent residents' review board for the police Call her at 510-464-6095 or email the BART Directors at BoardofDirectors at bart.gov



*3. Call the BART police to complain about the officers' conduct and demand immediate action:

*Internal Affairs:* Sergeant David Chlebowski 510.464.7029, dchlebo at bart.gov

*Chief of Police:* Gary Gee 510.464.7022, ggee at bart.gov

*Call them toll free at* 877.679.7000 and press the last four digits of the phone number you wish to reach.

*4. 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)*



*5. Stay tuned for other actions, protests, etc., especially if you are in the Bay.*



*peace,*



makani*** This is the listserv of the Left Turn anti-capitalist network. For more info about Left Turn and our magazine by the same name, check out our website at http://www.leftturn.org ***

	
	
	
	


	


	
	
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