OAKLAND: After the peaceful rally in Frank Ogawa Plaza, a march headed to the Fruitvale BART station and was interrupted on International Boulevard as police block off the streets. It got ugly as police and protesters began a game of cat and mouse in East Oakland, where police finally surround protesters on 6th Avenue and E 17th Street. Police corralled protestors and ultimately arrested 152 people.

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.

Youth Radio reporter Denise Tejada has been covering this story since the protests after Oscar Grant was killed more than a year and a half ago.

After the verdict was announced, I hit the streets. Protesters had already blocked off intersections. There were people walking around with megaphones and others holding Oscar Grant picture cut –outs. The protest started peacefully. City council members, community leaders, local musicians were amongst the peaceful crowd. A lot of people showed up, but as soon as the sun went down the crowd become rowdy.

Looters made their presence felt by breaking into Foot Locker, smashing its windows and stealing shoes. Police officers in riot gear lined up en mass to push looters away from downtown Oakland. As people were forced out of downtown, looters left behind broken windows, doors, and set trash cans on fire.

I felt the anger that night towards authorities.

As I watched people break into stores and stealing merchandise in front of police officers, I asked myself, why aren’t police doing anything? But as the night progressed and people become more violent, it was clear that if police intervened it would only make things worse. I was amongst an angry crowd of people. I saw various people taunting officers just to see how much cops could handle. And honestly, I felt cops held their own that night.

The level of violence and anger of that night didn’t compare to last year’s violent demonstrations. In last year’s protests, people were demanding Mehserle’s arrest and suspension. Over a year later, Mehserle was found guilty for involuntary manslaughter, a lesser degree from what protesters wanted, but one that indeed it brought some comfort to the streets.

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.

A 59-year-old man died after being brutally attacked in bright daylight in Downtown Oakland. A teenage boy is critically injured after a car being chased by Oakland’s BART police crashed into his car. Both of these incidents happened in one week. But according to Oakland Police Department Public Information Officer Jeff Thomason, crime in Oakland is down 16 percent. Read more...

Oakland drivers should be careful while hitting the streets of Oakland on Tuesday because undercover cops we’ll be out and about. The Oakland Police Department’s Traffic Unit will be conducting a pedestrian sting operation. Officers will be working, dressed in civilian clothes, walking in a secret location in North Oakland. Other officers will be in police uniforms’ conducting traffic stops after violations are observed.

According to Holly Joshi, public information officer for the Oakland Police Department, “We want to bring attention to this issue and to keep pedestrians safe.” This is not the first pedestrian sting undercover operation the Traffic Unit has done, but in light of recent pedestrian accidents, the tactic is in the spotlight.

The purpose of the operation is to target drivers not yielding to pedestrians crossing the street. Joshi says this operation is to remind drivers that pedestrians have the right away and allow the pedestrian to safely cross the street. The secret location was chosen in reaction to citizens’/ pedestrians’ safety concerns. “We are responding to the needs and concerns of the community,” Joshi said.

The Oakland Police Department has been actively reminding drivers about the laws. On March 12th, Oakland police officers were in search of those unbelted drivers and passengers—as part of California’s seatbelt law Click It or Ticket. Teens were officers' main focus, as their seatbelt usage rate lags behind adults, yet they are disproportionately involved in more crashes.
 

The City of Oakland started 2009 with the shooting death of 22-year-old Oscar Grant by former Bay Area Transit officer Johannes Mehserle. But Oscar Grant isn’t the only African American man who has lost his life at the hands of police in Oakland.

On Sept 20th, 2007—almost two years ago—20-year-old Gary King was shot in the back by an Oakland police officer after being pulled over for fitting the description of a “person of interest.” I went to school with Gary and I can remember him being extremely friendly, outgoing, and always surrounded by a crowd of people. Gary and I had mutual friends and the times we spoke it was obvious he was a fun, creative, and playful person--always playing pranks and smooth with the girls. It was shocking to hear someone I went to school with was shot to death by a cop.

The city of Oakland is expected to pay $1.5 million to settle a federal civil rights lawsuit filed by Gary King's family. After two years it’s about time the King family gets some kind of closure.

As this civil suit settles, Oakland waits to see the outcome of another- that brought by Oscar Grant's family against BART.  Former Officer Mehserle awaits to hear if  his criminal trial will be granted a change of venue. Mehserle's attorney argued in a 76 page request that more than 96 percent of nearly 400 Alameda County residents surveyed were familiar with the case. He also added that in the survey he found that 78 percent of blacks and 33 percent of whites believe Mehserle is guilty.  The Town waits with baited breath to see if justice will be served.
 

The new Oakland police chief, Anthony W. Batts, met with members of the press today at Oakland City Hall. Mayor Ron Dellums was also present. When asked why he went outside of the Bay area for his new chief, Dellums said that a top priority in the selection process was to find a new chief who understood urban communities. Batts spent seven years as Long Beach’s chief of police. During that time, Long Beach’s crime rate dropped to its lowest since 1975 and officer shootings decreased by 70 percent. Read more...

Oakland’s police department will be under new management. Mayor Run Dellums announced Wednesday that Anthony Batts would be Oakland’s new chief of police. Batts brings 30 years of experience and served seven years as Long Beach’s chief of police. Under his supervision, the Long Beach crime rate fell to its lowest since 1975 and officer-involved shooting decreased by 70 percent.

Earlier this week Oakland’s City Council voted to hire a private security firm to assist in patrolling some of Oakland’s dangerous areas. Since the killing of four Oakland police officers and in light of the city’s $80 million budget deficit, City Hall has been scrambling to find ways to keep the city safe as well as save money. Read more...

I went to the Oakland Athletics opening game on Friday, and I was surprised to see how much support there was in the stadium for the four police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty.