Youth Radio - Topic: Protest

Pictures From The Protest: Occupy Wall Street In Lower Manhattan

rgee — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:20:10 -0500

This is the eleventh communiqué from the 99 percent. We are occupying Wall Street. We will not be moved."

That is the latest posting on the unofficial Occupy Wall Street website, which has documented the protest in New York City that has gradually gained ground over the last few days. Similar protests are spreading to other cities around the United States as well.

The organizers were inspired by the events of the Arab Spring, and though their message is unclear at times, it seems to convey the condemnation of corrupt politics, banking institutions, and corporations. Yet, there are pictures showing protesters with social messages like, "Justice for Troy Davis." The hacker group Anonymous is involved with the organization of the protests, and recently released this video, calling for larger "occupation" of America.

Protesters are identifying as the 99 percent of America that struggle to sustain jobs, health care, and homes. Many of their protest signs call for justice for the remaining one percent. NYPD officers have been working to maintain safety at the protests.

According to the Wall Street journal, 80 arrests were made on Saturday, and law enforcement officials have been video-taped using mace and pepper spray against protesters.

See a collection of images from the last 11 days of the Occupy Wall Street protests on Turnstyle News.

Photos by Alex Fradkin and Peter Harris.

Egyptian Revolution

nmexico — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 21:58:35 -0600

Community members, students, and families protest in solidarity with the Egyptian people on January 26th, 2011. KUNM Youth Radio member Danya Mustafa interviews students and protesters about thier thoughts of the current events in Egypt.

When Activism Takes A Summer Break

wilmer — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 14:43:44 -0500

The following was broadcast on KQED-FM

By Danielle Nahal

I'm the last person anyone would expect to march in the streets. I’m just not that political. But as my first semester started last fall, amidst the chemistry lectures and literature discussions, UC Berkeley began to mobilize.

The UC Regents had proposed a 32% tuition increase across the entire system. And though still wary of the political extremism Berkeley is known for, I found myself attending lectures, teach-ins, and discussions. I needed to understand how the tuition hike would affect my life as a prospective medical student. And ultimately I came to realize how damaging these education cuts would be for everyone in California.

I dug deeper, and in the fall I hung a picket sign on my dorm room door, and wore the red wrist band which came to symbolize the fight against budget cuts. And most of all, I talked to my friends about why I was getting involved. I didn’t want people passing this off as just another Berkeley protest.

When spring came, I took an art history class focused on the French Revolution. My fellow students and I were inspired by the societal change accomplished by French citizens. And we joined our professor to rally in front of the state capital in Sacramento on March 4th.

Now five months later, I wish I could say that I’m still following the budgetary process, but I’m not. Without student leaders organizing events, I hardly even discuss what's happening.

And it’s not just me. The storm which enveloped UC Berkeley last September, by June, had blown over completely. It left behind a complacent campus with students like me commuting to summer our classes, and tour groups snapping pictures of Wheeler Hall, as guides tell them about last fall’s sit-in.

As the state legislature moves closer and closer to passing a budget, with not a peep from campus organizers, I find myself wondering - can student activism afford to take a summer vacation?

It matters less how many thousands of students took to the streets. What really counts is what we were able to accomplish. And today as I register for fall classes, there are fewer bio labs, and my tuition has gone up.

The issues didn’t take a break. So why did we?

Previously:

Part Time Protestors

wilmer — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:56:22 -0500

The following originally aired on KCBS.

By Kavon Jones

Many people in the east bay took to the streets protesting Oscar Grant’s death, but when but when black on black crime happens in our own neighborhoods, what do we do about it?

I’m Kavon Jones with a commentary from Youth Radio.

Black people need to stop being part-time protestors, and start addressing the problems inside our own communities. There are thousands of Oscar Grants, except too often the killings are black on black violence, but it’s no different. Picking and choosing which murders to protest won’t heal Oakland or our neighborhoods.

Even worse, some people used Oscar Grant’s death as an excuse to run around downtown Oakland and be like "imma take this cuz they killed Oscar Grant,” which is absolutely the wrong way to get justice.

And justice is often not so hard to imagine. Too often we know the troublemakers in our community, but the stigma of snitching and the fear of death, keeps people from coming forward.

Oscar Grant became a symbol of police brutality. We need to recognize that every black on black murder is also a symbol for a community in crisis, and then have the courage to seek justice for our friends, family, and neighbors.

Rally In Support Of Johannes Mehserle

denise — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:37:45 -0500

An event invitation titled “In Support of Johannes Mehserle and L.E.O.Rally” is making its way around Facebook. The invitation welcomes anyone who supports the former BART cop, his family and law enforcement officers. Creators emphasized their intent to keep the gathering PEACEFUL.

“This rally is NOT about inciting violence, destruction, intolerance, hatred, racism, riots or to upset the Grant family. If your intent is to do these things then please stay home. People who support law enforcement and Johannes have just as much right to rally together with other believers to have their voices heard and support one another.”
via Facebook

So far there are 76 confirmed guests attending this rally in support of Johannes Mehserle.

Looters Made Their Presence Felt In Downtown Oakland

denise — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 18:52:37 -0500

17th and Broadway turned out to be the epicenter of protester’s confrontation with police officers Thursday night, after former BART officer Johannes Mehserle was found guilty of involuntarily manslaughter for the shooting and killing of Oscar Grant.

78 people were arrested in last night’s violent demonstrations but only 19 were from Oakland.

These videos were taken by YR videographer Haldun Morgan, on the street in front 1701 Broadway, Youth Radio's headquarters.

A Night In Pictures- Downtown Oakland After the Verdict

nishat — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 13:49:53 -0500

OAKLAND-Youth Radio photographers were out in the streets from the hour the verdict was read, taking pictures of the story that unfolded when disappointed Oakland residents and other protesters heard that Johannes Mehserle was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of Oscar Grant.

Click here for more multimedia stories about the Oscar Grant case.

Sentencing

wilmer — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 15:03:02 -0500

Courtroom coverage: OAKLAND & LOS ANGELES--Former BART police officer Johannes Mehserle has been sentenced to two years in state prison in the New Year's Day 2009 shooting death of 22-year old Oscar Grant. Protesters gathered in the downtown Oakland City Center (above) to express outrage and sadness over the sentence.

This post will update with the latest headlines, and you can read on for our previous coverage of the case. We've broken down our previous coverage into the following themes: The Case, Citizen Journalism, Impact, and Protests.

Updates

Posted on December 03, 2010	Mehserle Bail Hearing Today LOS ANGELES-- The defense attorney for Johannes Mehserle will ask that his client be freed on a pending appeal of the conviction of the involuntary manslaughter BART passenger Oscar Grant in 2009.
Posted on November 06, 2010	Youth Radio's Mural Tribute to Oscar Grant by Miguel "Bounce" Perez OAKLAND-Turning a community's outpouring of emotion into art, Miguel "Bounce" Perez created a tribute to Oscar Grant and other victims of police brutality on a building in downtown Oakland the night before the two year sentence was delivered for the transit cop who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in Grant's death.
Posted on November 05, 2010	Chapter Closes on Oscar Grant Shooting Trial [SLIDESHOW] OAKLAND: Downtown Oakland was anxious at the end of a week of high anticipation, waiting for the sentencing of former BART police officer Johannes Mehserle.
	Police Surround Protesters Friday Night in Oakland Youth Radio’s Haldun Morgan reports from the scene on 6th Avenue between 16th and 17th streets in Oakland Friday night as police surround about 150 people most of whom were protesting the 2 year minimum sentence for BART policeman Johannes Mehserle in the shooting of Oscar Grant.
	Oakland Reacts to Mehserle Sentence; Protests Lead To Arrests OAKLAND: After the peaceful rally in Frank Ogawa Plaza, a march headed to the Fruitvale BART station gets interrupted on International Boulevard as police block off the streets.
	Oakland Reacts to Mehserle Sentence Ansel Troy, Kasin Abdul and Chris Banks were just some of the young people who joined a small crowd at city center in Oakland in the hour after the former BART officer Johannes Mehserle received a sentence of two years for the shooting death of Oscar Grant.
	The Sentencing: By the Numbers LOS ANGELES-- Two years. That is the sentence to be faced by disgraced former BART police officer Johannes Mehserle who was convicted on July 8th of the involuntary manslaughter of BART passenger Oscar Grant.
	Downtown Oakland Before and After Mehserle Sentence (Photos) Scenes from downtown streets moments before and after former BART transit cop Johannes Mehserle was sentenced.
	Tweet Stream LOS ANGELES-If you're not on Twitter, here are reporter Noah Nelson's recent updates.
	Judge Perry Issues Minimum Sentence For Johannes Mehserle: Two Years Judge Robert Perry has sentenced former BART transit cop Johannes Mehserle to the minimum sentence of two years in state prison for the shooting death of 22 year old Oscar Grant.
	Oakland Speaks Youth Radio is gathering reflections from people in downtown Oakland as the city awaits today's sentencing of former transit cop Johannes Mehserle in the shooting death of Oscar Grant.
	Mehserle Sentencing Today A judge is expected to sentence former transit cop Johannes Mehserle today after his involuntary manslaughter conviction in the shooting death of 22-year-old Oscar Grant.
Posted on November 04, 2010	Mehserle Sentencing and The Unanswered Question: Should Transit Cops Have Guns? Just how long Johannes Mehserle goes to prison for fatally shooting an unarmed train passenger will likely come down to one thing: his gun.
Posted on November 03, 2010	Anticipating The Mehserle Sentence: 5 - 14 Years The trial for Johannes Mehserle, former Oakland BART Police Officer, had California buzzing over the controversy. Mehserle shot 22 year-old train rider Oscar Grant in the back on New Year’s Day 2009 after pinning him to the ground on the Fruitvale BART platform.
Posted on July 20, 2010	Grant Station: A Killing And The Aftermath (in images) (OAKLAND)-Youth Radio has created an online magazine (scroll down to flip through it) documenting the 19 months following the shooting death of Oscar Grant at the hands of former Bay Area Rapid Transit Officer Johannes Mehserle.
	Demanding Attention for Oscar Grant It's been more than a week since former BART officer Johannes Mehserle was found guilty of the minimum charge he could receive for killing another human being in cold blood.
	Pro-Mehserle Rally Overtaken by Grant Supporters After all of the drama, riots, and protests surrounding the verdict of ‘involuntary manslaughter’ for Johannes Mehserle, those in support of Mehserle decided that they needed to be heard.
Posted on July 16, 2010	The Night The Verdict Came Out: A Chaotic Night OAKLAND-Youth Radio reporters and essayists were out in force the night the verdict was read. A week later, we present their reflections on the events of that night, as observers and chroniclers of this community.
Posted on July 15, 2010	The Night The Verdict Came Down: A Writer's Reflections OAKLAND-Youth Radio reporters and essayists were out in force the night the verdict was read. A week later, we present their reflections on the events of that night, as observers and chroniclers of this community.
	Mixed Feelings after BART Trial Verdict For the past few weeks, talking to my friends about the Oscar Grant shooting trial, the long conversations were always the same: They all wanted a second-degree murder verdict for former BART officer Johannes Mehserle.
Posted on July 14, 2010	Rally In Support Of Johannes Mehserle An event invitation titled “In Support of Johannes Mehserle and L.E.O.Rally” is making its way around Facebook.
	Mehserle Sentencing Moved to November 5th LOS ANGELES - Sentencing for Johannes Mehserle in the involuntary manslaughter conviction in the death of Oscar Grant has been moved to the fall.
	Business Owners Don't Blame Cops For Their Broken Windows Protesters took over downtown Oakland as soon as the verdict in the murder trial of former BART officer Johannes Mehserle was announced. Mehserle was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter.
	Oakland's Next Move: A Chess Move In the wake of the Johannes Mehserle verdict, people in Oakland were mad, others were very mad, and most everybody was confused.
Posted on July 13, 2010	Zumbi Gets Reactions From Downtown Oakland Bay Area hip hop duo Zion were among the hundreds protesters and members of the community on the day of the Mehserle trial verdict. Zumbi of Zion I captured footage from the protests in downtown Oakland.
Posted on July 12, 2010	Awaiting Justice In Mehserle Sentence For the past few weeks, talking to my friends about the Oscar Grant shooting trial, the long conversations were always the same: Everybody wanted a second degree murder verdict for Johannes Mehserle, a white police officer who was accused of shooting Grant, an African American, on New Year's Eve in 2009. But everyone assumed acquittal was coming.
Posted on July 9, 2010	Out-Of-Towners Represent Majority of Arrested Protesters OAKLAND-Both the mayor and the police chief are pleased, overall, with the outcome of civil protests in Oakland last night: only 78 people arrested, and three-fourths of them from outside the city.
	Face Of Slain BART Rider Reappears In Oakland As the Judge finished giving his instructions to the jury in Los Angeles, as if it was a signal, store owners in downtown Oakland began boarding up their windows. Within hours many storefronts pasted a silkscreen poster of Oscar Grant on their windows... some already boarded up with plywood.
	The Tense Moment Before LOS ANGELES-- Less than an hour before the first rumors that a verdict was coming down I knew something was up.
	Oakland Barbershop Stays Open During Protests In downtown oakland, in the hours before the verdict was announced in the oscar grant murder trial, stores were boarded up and employees were sent home early. However one barbershop stayed open, and this is their story.
	A Night In Pictures- Downtown Oakland After the Verdict OAKLAND-Youth Radio photographers were out in the streets from the hour the verdict was read, taking pictures of the story that unfolded when disappointed Oakland residents and other protesters heard that Johannes Mehserle was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of Oscar Grant.
	Police, Protesters Clash, Windows Crash in Downtown Oakland OAKLAND-Police far outnumbered protesters, some of whom professed to be anarchists, last night in demonstrations that began peacefully after an involuntary manslaughter conviction was announced in the Johannes Mehserle trial, and later turned ugly.
Posted on July 8, 2010	Jean Quan: "At Least...There Will Be Some Time Done" OAKLAND-Mayoral candidate Jean Quan, reacting to the verdict in the Mehserle case, says she feels like Oscar Grant family lawyer John Burris: "At least...some time will be done," by former BART cop Johannes Mehserle in Grant's killing.
	More Protest Pictures from Downtown Oakland Post-Verdict DOWNTOWN OAKLAND- Dismayed and angry protestors took to the streets in downtown Oakland Thursday after Johannes Mehserle was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of Oscar Grant.
	Young Woman Hit By Police Car in Downtown Oakland OAKLAND-A young woman was hit by a police car in downtown Oakland tonight as crowds gathered to protest the involuntary manslaughter conviction in the Johannes Mehserle trial.
	Downtown Oakland After the Verdict OAKLAND- There's scattered violence in downtown Oakland this evening as crowds gather to protest the involuntary manslaughter conviction in the trial of former BART police officer Johannes Mehserle.
	Residents Evacuate Downtown Oakland Before the verdict in the murder trial of Johannes Mehserle was announced, residents of Oakland began evacuating en mass. Here is an interview with a family as they're leaving Oakland.
	Jehannes Mehserle Verdict LOS ANGELES--Former BART police officer Johannes Mehserle has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of unarmed BART passenger Oscar Grant. Sentencing will take place on August 6th.
	Oscar Grant Murder Trial: Glimpse of Insight? LOS ANGELES-- A question that came out of Friday’s deliberations in the Oscar Grant murder trial has become a focal point for speculation about what is being discussed in the jury room.
	Oscar Grant Murder Trial: When No News Is Good News LOS ANGELES-- After days of false starts, illnesses, and doctor's appointments, the jury in the murder trial of former BART Police Officer Johannes Mehserle for the shooting death of Oscar Grant is embarking on an entire day of deliberations.
Posted on July 7, 2010	Oscar Grant Murder Trial: Jury Barely Begun LOS ANGELES --With closing arguments completed five days ago, there has yet to be a full day of deliberations in the murder trial of former BART police officer Johannes Mehserle for the New Year’s Day 2009 shooting of Oscar Grant.
	Mehserle Jury Adjourns This Morning LOS ANGELES -- The jury in the trial of former BART police officer Johannes Mehserle will only be in deliberation for two hours today, beginning at nine a.m. The jury will adjourn at 11 because Juror Number 3 has a doctor's appointment.
Posted on July 6, 2010	Oscar Grant Murder Trial Judge Worries About "Erroneous" Coverage LOS ANGELES -- The judge presiding over the Oscar Grant murder trial expressed "great concern" about how inaccurate media coverage of the trial is affecting community sentiment in Oakland, where Grant's shooting took place.
	Juror Sick - No Verdict In Oscar Grant Trial Today LOS ANGELES - Deliberations have been postponed today in the Oscar Grant case because a juror called in sick. Jurors began deliberating Friday afternoon, in the case of murder trial of Johannes Mehserle, the former BART cop who shot 22 year-old Grant on New Year's Day 2009.
Posted on July 2, 2010	Renaming Fruitvale BART Sation? Youth Radio's Pendarvis Harshaw talks to Mayor Ron Dellums about renaming Fruitvale BART station in honor of Oscar Grant.
	Oscar Grant Jury Deliberating According to the public information office at the LA Superior Court, video equipment was installed in the jury room at 1:15 and deliberations began at 1:40. Youth Radio's King Anyi Howell was inside the courtroom today. Check out his video describing Judge Perry's the instructions to the jury.
	Oakland Storefronts Post Image of Oscar Grant: Support or Safety? Youth Radio's Pendarvis Harshaw talks to some local business owners about the Oscar Grant "Demand Justice" posters up in their storefronts to see if the posters are hung up to truly support Oscar Grant's family or to just protect their stores from possible vandalism in the anticipated protests in Downtown Oakland.
	Police Chief Says Oscar Grant Trial Is Defining Moment For Oakland On New Year's Day in 2009, then-BART Transit officer Johannes Mehserle shot and killed an unarmed 22-year-old man named Oscar Grant.
	Oscar Grant Murder Trial: Mehserle's Defense Finishes Closing Arguments LOS ANGELES-- Michael Rains, attorney for former BART police officer Johannes Mehserle who is standing trial for the murder of passenger Oscar Grant, finished his closing arguments this morning in the court room of Judge Robert Perry.
	Morning in the Courthouse [Oscar Grant Case] LOS ANGELES-- A family gathers around a formica countertop, dressed in muted versions of their Sunday best, finding smiles and laughs where they can over warm eggs and bacon on styrofoam plates. If not for the location, you might think this was any middle class African American family who had stopped off for breakfast at a lackluster diner.
Posted on July 1, 2010	L.A. Judge Worries About Trial’s Impact In Oakland The judge in the trial of a former transit cop accused of murdering a 22-year-old passenger in Oakland said he worries that at times his rulings have been misrepresented by Bay Area media outlets.
	Youth UpRising: Violence Is Not Justice! Oakland's Youth UpRising produced a PSA saying "Violence Is Not Justice!" in anticipation of the verdict in the Oscar Grant Murder Trial going on now in Los Angeles. BART Officer Johannes Mehserle shooting Oscar Grant on New Years Eve in 2009. The case is going to the jury on Friday.
	Oscar Grant Murder Trial: Prosecution Gives Closing Arguments Closing arguments were held today in the murder trial for Johannes Mehserle. Reporter Anyi Howell is inside the courtroom where Alameda County District Attorney David Stein finished giving his final argument.
Posted on June 30, 2010	Oscar Grant Case - Mehserle Facing A Range Of Charges LOS ANGELES - Was it a tragic accident or a deliberate act of aggression? That’s the question facing the jury in the trial of Johannes Mehserle, an ex Bay Area Rapid Transit police officer accused of murder. Closing statements are expected Thursday. Mehserle, 28, is on trial for the murder of Oscar Grant III, an unarmed black male.

June 24: Oakland: Road To Riot? Rumors, Speculation Fuel Fear-- OAKLAND-- With a gag order over the murder trial of Johannes Merhserle for the shooting death of Oscar Grant III, speculation and raw disinformation have filled the void to stoke fears of a major riot in Oakland after the announcement of the verdict.

June 22:

Inside the Courtroom -- Johannes Mehserle Trial Day 8-- LOS ANGELES-- Defense attorney Michael Rains called Alex Hidas as the first witness. Hidas is a San Leandro police officer who tried to arrest Grant during a police stop in 2006. Rains’ opening strategy seems to focus on putting Oscar Grant’s character on trial.

June 21:

Inside the Courtroom -- Johannes Mehserle Trial Day 7-- LOS ANGELES-- Deputy District Attorney David Stein called several Bart employees to the stand this morning, including the train operator who had transported Oscar Grant and his friends to the Fruitvale Station.

June 20:

Inside the Courtroom--Johannes Mehserle Trial Day 6-- LOS ANGELES-- Former BART officer Anthony Pirone took the stand on Friday in the case of The People Vs. Johannes Mehserle.

June 17:

Inside the Courtroom -- Johannes Mehserle Trial Day 5-- LOS ANGELES-- Former BART police officer Marysol Domenici began her testimony on Thursday in the trial of Johannes Mehserle. Domenici was the second officer to arrive at the Fruitvale BART station before Oscar Grant was killed.

June 16:

A Tale of Two Cities-- Even before you saw the faces of the protestors in Los Angeles, you saw the face of Oscar Grant—it was featured across a big banner. But there was something I noticed immediately: the date of Grant’s death was wrong.

PODCAST: Trial Watch: Inside the Courtroom with King Anyi Howell-- EPISODE THREE: The trial is on break today, giving us a chance to talk with our man inside the court room, King Anyi Howell, about what he's seen in the trial so far.

June 15:

Inside the Courtroom -- Johannes Mehserle Trial Day 4-- What's interesting is that Judge Perry ruled that no cameras, computers, or audio recorders are allowed in the courtroom to capture the trial of former BART officer Mehserle, who stands trial for the murder of Oscar Grant. But it makes me wonder – if he’s so interested in accurate reporting, why not allow the media one audio recording?

Public Needs to Pay Attention to Mehserle Trial-- In the first few days of Mehserle's trial, the video of Grant's shooting has played repeatedly. It is not an easy thing to make sense of what happened that night and why. It is not an easy thing to sit in court with Grant's family.

PODCAST: Trial Watch Episode Two-- Guest Host Noah Nelson talks with correspondent Denise Tejada in Los Angeles about the trial's developments on Day Four. Including another juror dismissal, sloppy reporting from a major Bay Area news organization and more.

New Videos From The Mehserle Trial-- On Monday community members, kids, students, parents, and community organizations gathered outside the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center to re-enforce their call for justice in the murder case of Oscar Grant III.

June 14:

Protestors Gather Outside Johannes Mehserle Trial-- Approximately 60 protesters lined the sidewalk Monday morning outside of L.A.'s Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center, protesting what some say is a court biased against the family of Oscar Grant, an Oakland man who was shot in 2009.

WATCH: L.A. Protest Outside Johannes Mehserle Trial-- VIDEO

PODCAST: Trial Watch Episode One-- Host Pendarvis Harshaw talks with correspondent Denise Tejada with updates from the day's events in the murder trial of former BART police officer Johannes Mehserle in the shooting death of Oscar Grant.

June 10:
From Oakland to Los Angeles: A High Profile Trial Begins-- All eyes are on Judge Robert J. Perry’s Los Angeles courtroom on Thursday as opening statements start in a controversial murder trial.

June 9:
Guide to the Daily Mehserle/Grant Trial Tweet-Chat-- We will be hosting a tweet-chat with reporters and observers of the Johannes Mehserle trial at 12:30 PM PDT every day that court is in session. F.A.Q. within.

Jury Selection Finalized In Former Officer's Murder Trial-- The jury in Mehserle’s trial consists of eight women and four men--seven are white, four are Hispanic, and one is Indian.

June 2:
Jury Selection Kicks Off in Officer's Murder Trial-- Two hundred potential jurors will be called to the Los Angeles County Courthouse on Wednesday for the first round of jury selection.

Call for Questions: Mehserle Trial/Oscar Grant Case-- What do you want to know about the trial? send us your questions on Twitter @youthradio, or leave them on the wall at the YMI fan Page on Facebook.

June 1:
Justice For Oscar Grant Continues-- Youth Radio spoke to Rachel Jackson, organizer with the Oakland Assembly and New Year’s Movement for Justice, on the importance of keeping this case alive.

The Shooting:

Reports on the shooting, and on the case against former officer Mehserle as it developed.

In the early morning hours of New Year’s Day 2009, chaos erupted at the Fruitvale BART station. After a night of celebration, partygoers were heading home -- including 22-year-old Oscar Grant. BART police were called into the Fruitvale station in response to reports of a fight on a train coming in from San Francisco. Officer Johannes Mehserle was one of the officers restraining the individuals believed to be involved in the fight. While attempting to restrain Oscar Grant, Mehserle drew his gun and shot Grant once in the back. Grant later died at Highland Hospital. Alameda County prosecutors charged Mehserle with murder. He has resigned from his position and pled not guilty. His lawyers say that Mehserle was attempting to tase Grant, but mistakenly pulled out his gun instead. Grant had been unarmed.

Johannes Mesherle Faces Murder Charges
Judge decides to go on with the Mehserle murder trial.

More on the Oscar Grant shooting

Citizen Journalism:
Our coverage of your coverage.

Other BART travelers captured the events on camera. This footage played a major role in the calls for the prosecution of former BART officer Mehserle on murder charges. One of these citizen journalists was 19-year-old Karina Vargas. Vargas turned over her camera footage to the police and was later called to testify as a witness in Mehserle’s trial.

Oscar Grant: Eyewitness Karina Vargas [VIDEO]
Interview plus footage taken on BART platform the night of the shooting.

An Eye For Truth
Karina Vargas' video is at the center of Oakland's Oscar Grant controversy.

Other Posts on Citizen Journalism

The City's Impact

Youth Radio's national headquarters is in Oakland. Many of our students and students turned staff-- including trial reporter King Anyi Howell-- call Oakland home. These essays represent their view of the shooting's impact on their community.

Oakland: Road To Riot? Rumors, Speculation Fuel Fear
With a gag order over the murder trial of Johannes Merhserle for the shooting death of Oscar Grant III, speculation and raw disinformation have filled the void to stoke fears of a major riot in Oakland after the announcement of the verdict.

Bout That Action: Oscar Grant Protest

On-air personality Leon Sykes reflects on his conflicting emotions in the wake of last week's violence.

Oakland:Beauty and Ugliness
Brandon McFarland delves into the soul of his city in the shadow of Oscar Grant's killing.

Protests

In the wake of the shooting and arrest of Johannes Meheserle a series of protests turned violent in downtown Oakland.

Video Collection
Our collection of videos showing the protests during the week after the shooting of Oscar Grant at Fruitvale BART Station.

VIDEO: Justice For Oscar Grant Rally
Footage from the Jan 14th rally in Oakland, CA.

More on the Oakland protests:

Cal Students Against Arizona's Immigration Law

denise — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 18:32:38 -0500

Can you imagine being pulled over because police think you look like an illegal immigrant? How does an illegal immigrant look anyway? These are the questions protesters at UC Berkeley were asking on Thursday regarding Arizonan’s new immigrant detention law. Bill 1070 gives authorities the right to detain people who they suspect are in the country illegally.

About 500 people gathered at UC Berkeley’s campus to show solidarity. They were also requesting UC Berkeley’s Chancellor Robert J. Birgeneau to make Cal a sanctuary campus.

Previously:

Capitol 9: Satyagraha Against Legalized Racial Profiling

Capitol 9: Satyagraha Against Legalized Racial Profiling

nishat — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 18:42:29 -0500

Just as the Chicago 7 became an iconic symbol for popular resistance in 1968, the Capitol 9 may become shorthand for youth resistance to Arizona's harsh new immigrant detention law.

Bill 1070 gives authorities the right to detain people who they suspect are in the country illegally.

Prior to the law passing, college students and community members took it upon themselves to educate others on what this law would mean if passed. Twenty-year-old Daisy Cruz is one of the nine students better known as the Capital 9 that were arrested for disorderly conduct after they chained themselves to Arizona’s Capitol building. Cruz tells Youth Radio the idea arose after the bill passed the Senate.

Q: Why chain yourself to the Capitol building?
A: Well, we decided to take it to the next level just because as a movement we had already tried protesting, rallying, petitions, calling senators' offices; we had already tried everything, and felt this was the necessary next step -- a non-violent civil disobedience. We were arrested and taken to the holding cell in downtown Phoenix. Eight of us were there until two in the morning.

Q:What kind of support have you gotten from the youth?
A: The following days after we were arrested there were massive walkouts. Youth organized against their administration -- even though the principal was yelling on those speaker phones not to walk out, they still mobilized. Some schools walked for miles and miles before they even got to the Capitol building. We hadn’t seen that in awhile in Arizona, so that was very empowering for the rest of the community. We feel very accomplished. We were scared that it would just be another little protest that would be overlooked. Our goal was to call for action, not just from Arizona, but from the nation, to know what’s going on in Arizona. To know that it changed the whole dialogue -- the way people were talking about the issue and how people were reacting -- it completely changed the frame in the way this bill was being presented. We all feel very accomplished. We all are very grateful that it went on this path cause this is what we originally wanted.

Q: How did Capitol 9 form?
A: It’s important to mention that even though the media calls us Capitol 9 there were 20-plus people that helped in the organizing of this, so there wasn’t just nine of us. Those who wanted to participate in a more direct action decided to keep meeting, eventually it kept dwindling down to those who actually participated. After that [arrest] it was consecutive meetings everyday 'til like two in the morning, discussing important issues and making sure we came to consensuses on everything. That was the cool part about organizing, we didn’t have a leader, we didn’t have an agenda, we didn’t have an organization and it made organizing easier in that sense because we discussed things right there and then, and what we wanted as a group. Only the members that were willing to get arrested would vote.

Q: What are some of the things your group is doing to educate others about the bill?
A: Some of us asked the group to create a pamphlet with main points that stood out from the bill and how people could get involved, so that we can pass it out to other students and at several events.

Q: Why is immigration such an important issue for you?
A: Personally, I live here, my family lives here, my community, I feel responsible for every one of my relations. I know that this will have a dramatic impact on the community—it pretty much legalizes racial profiling. We figured, we’re either gonna get arrested now and make a statement or it’s going to turn into such a police state that is going to happen because we don’t have an identification on us.

Q: How will this new law affect you and your family?
A: Well, I don’t look any different from anybody who is undocumented or documented. My parents are from Mexico, I was born here and my brother was born in Mexico—they’re residents. I have cousins, aunts, and uncles who are still on that process [residency process] or who have not yet been able to get on that process, so that’s where my family is at. They’re scared. Everybody turns to those who are documented to speak on their behalf. Even though those who are documented are scared, we’re all scared. This bill is making families turn against each other.

Q:Now that the bill passed, what are you doing to keep the movement going?
A: We have meetings everyday on future actions and steps. We...are trying to keep that pressure there...Tucson is organizing, we have people organizing in Phoenix and others in Tempe and it’s really turning out into a large mobilization.