Protest Against Oakland Transit Police Shooting Turns Violent
Oscar Grant was shot and killed by BART transit police on New Year's Day.This is a follow up story about the incident.
(Terry Collins of the Associated Press)
OAKLAND, Calif. — Protests over the fatal shooting of an unarmed man by a Bay Area Rapid Transit police officer turned violent Wednesday night with windows broken, fires set and train stations closed.
A few hundred protesters took the streets of downtown Oakland to condemn the shooting and call for criminal charges against 27-year-old officer Johannes Mehserle. Oakland police reported at least 14 arrests.
Mehserle resigned from the transit agency shortly before he was supposed to be interviewed by investigators Wednesday.
Mehserle is accused of shooting 22-year-old Oscar Grant of Hayward, who was lying face-down on the station platform when he was shot and killed early New Year's Day. Mehserle was one of several officers responding to reports about groups of men fighting on a train.
Protesters gathered in the afternoon at the Fruitvale BART station where the shooting occurred. It was peaceful at first but began to turn nasty after a splinter group left that site and marched downtown.
Protesters set fire to a trash container and tried to overturn a police car, smashing the front window. Police attempted to disperse the crowd and smaller groups of protesters marched to different areas.
Some protesters threw bottles, a window of a fast-food restaurant and other downtown stores were smashed, at least three cars were set on fire and many other automobiles were damaged. Police in riot gear threw tear gas to try to break up the demonstration.
"The crowd started to become more agitated, more hostile, started throwing stuff at the police," Oakland police spokesman Jeff Thomason said. "We gave a dispersal order four to five times over a 20-minute period, then we had our officers go in and start making arrests." (source)
Quite frankly, I am not surprised that there was a violent response to the shooting. The video of the of the incident reveals that Grant was complying with officers when he was shot in the back. The brother was lying face down when he was killed.
I will continue to follow this story. It certainly is not over-yet. While Mayor Ron Dellums has issued a plea for residents of the community to remain calm. He has also called for a full investigation into the matter by legal authorities.
Man Shot and Killed by Transit Police
MBEV and other Afrospear bloggers are following the story of The Shooting Death of Oscar Grant on New Year's Day by BART Transit Police.
We are also calling for a full investigation into the incident and for legal action to be taken against the officers involved in this shooting.
2 comments:
I could not watch the video, but I believe it contains what you say. Too often guys with SPS pin on a badge to compensate for their perceived shortcomings in other areas. There is a fine line between the personality types of cops and criminals - both like to have power when others don't, and somehow nobody seems to make it a priority to teach police how to manage their bully instincts. I'm not surprised that the protest turned violent, either. Saddened, but not surprised. I lay that on the leadership of the protesters though. Where were the church leaders in this thing? Splinter groups who break away and overturn police cars and damage businesses do nobody any good. I wish I had healing words to offer, but it feels like all I've got is confusion and dismay. Please know that not all white people are assholes. Please know that some of us are decent people who grieve with you when shit like this happens. I don't tolerate racist speech or behavior among the people I know, nor do my friends. I wish more people were taught more tolerance and less fear.
Dawn,
My dad is a retired law enforcement officer and I have a sib who works in the same field.
I am a the point in life where stupidity and ass holes are not a identified as a particular race of people. We have just as many in our midst as well.
The shooting made no sense whatsoever! It hurt me to my heart to see that young man murdered in cold blood.
Thanks for letting me know about the video. I will find a copy and post it.
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