As I headed to downtown Oakland with members of the Ella Baker Center family, I really did not know what to expect. Almost every business was closed. Some of the big ones had posted security guards outside. The streets were almost empty.
I had to laugh as we passed a local business that, despite boarding up their windows, did not let an opportunity to advertise pass by. I was also touched by the new mural on the Youth Radio building paying homage to Oscar’s life. We reached the intersection of 14th and Broadway by passing through a long line of cops.
I could hear a diverse line up of speakers taking the mic and sharing their reactions, emotions and thoughts. There were many
Photo credit: Sahar Shirazi
beautiful pieces of art on display pleading for justice. The level of discourse was fairly high in the crowd with the people around me finding smart and constructive ways to express their sadness, anger, and indignation. Yet, it was hard to ignore the huge rows of cops surrounding the gathering at every angle. Was all the hype, fueled by the OPD and the media, that supposedly demanded the outrageously large police presence the chicken or the egg in this situation?
I wondered what might happen if as the sun set, nothing happened. What an incredible statement that would have been to Oakland officials and police!
As I headed home, we witnessed a 15 year old, Black youth being searched by the cops for no apparent reason. He seemed unscathed for the most part and chalked it up to being “young and black.” As we walked further, a huge gaggle of police cars tore down the street towards the community gathering.
I found myself torn- wanting to stay out in the streets to bear witness and to stand with the community yet not wanting to be on the other end of a marching line of riot cops should the situation intensify. And indeed, things did intensify. A Foot Locker, the Whole Foods and a few other businesses experienced property damage and cops had water bottles thrown their way. The media had a heyday- asking whether these rioters were outside anarchist perpetrators or Oakland residents and shifting all the media attention onto these acts of vandalism instead of on the pressing issue of justice that caused them.
I will never know whether those who upped their response to a level of property destruction were merely enraged at the verdict, or perhaps they were overwhelmed and angry, as I was, to see so clearly the Police State that we live in. And maybe there were a few outsider folks who came to town eager at the opportunity to stir things up. But to me, that doesn’t matter so much.
What matters is that there was clear and building energy in Oakland yesterday. Energy to build a larger and lasting movement for justice. A movement that makes connections between the actions of the police to the criminalization of folks of color and the lack of opportunities for poor folks. A chorus of voices who are willing to come out, even when intimidated to control their anger, to display their rage and demand justice. And a generation of young people who are engaged in the struggle and who maintain a true commitment to peace. Maybe the Police were throwing a riot; whereas I was seizing an opportunity to stand with community. Surrounded by the people of Oakland, I felt proud to be in such good company.
15 Comments
I had the pleasure of attending last years protest and this years protest, and it was amazing to see people who were visible angry, disappointed, let down, hurt but united and peaceful. The vibe during the protest was great and people were expressing there feelings to each other and supporting one another. Even though the OPD presence was strong and visible, it did not hinder what we were there to do, pay respect to Oscar Grant, and show our anger toward a system that continues to treat people of color like they don’t matter. We stood united as one Human Race.
What if the police had enough cops to keep the peace? You know, the same number of cops per capita as a normal city? What if the city didn’t waste is money on grants to groups such as yours? Maybe they’d have the money to send cops out on more patrols. Maybe two people wouldn’t have gotten shot in Oakland last night. God bless the OPD.
You know, maybe they shouldn’t have gone out and stood for five hours without a bathroom break, a food break, while being taunted with death threats, racial slurs, and other idiocy. Maybe Oakland doesn’t deserve them.
What a beautiful post.
@Brian-The reality is that this is not about the cops, it’s about the injustice of our so called justice system, it’s about racism that is present here in oakland and around our country and world every second and it’s about people getting fed up! If our system supported people of color, especially youth in the same ways that it supported white people we would be looking at a different country. Blaming Oaklanders is not the answer and this kind of unrest is not just going to dissipate if we add more cops. In fact the majority of the folks arrested at the protest were not Oaklanders.
I praise the Ella Baker center and other organizations like theirs for actually trying to bring justice to Oakland, for providing educational services, and for standing up against BS like this verdict in peaceful protest. Continue the good work!
The Chronicle gets it right. The Oakland Police responded — as well as Oakland’s people — in a measured, thoughtful way.
They got it right.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/07/10/BAC11EC838.DTL
Criticizing the Oakland Police department now is not only thoughtless. It is insensitive, considering the already understaffed department is facing steep layoffs Monday.
The truth is if politically correct pap — like this blog post — saved lives, Oakland would be one of the safest cities in the nation. It doesn’t, and it isn’t.
Think a little bit before simply regurgitating some party line.
Thank you Meredith
Brian- I don’t understand what you are so angry about. Why is it “politically correct pap” to state the facts of an event? There was a giant police presence at the protest, enough to make any one feel intimidated. The police did close in and declare “unlawful assembly.” And I saw at least one young Black man searched for absolutely no reason. There was fear on both sides, both fear of the police and fear of a group of angry people (mostly people of color) assembling. The peaceful rally allowed Oaklanders to express their anger, but also their unity and their strength. And the media attention to the “rioting” that followed allowed OPD to convince people they need more money.
Yes, there are less police officers in Oakland than many cities, but they are paid more here than almost anywhere in the state. We spend 75% of the city’s budget on the police & fire department, 48% just on police. With the city facing massive budget crisis, forcing schools, parks, and all communities to suffer, the average salary of a police officer in Oakland remains at $95,000 year before overtime. And they are the only city officials who do not contribute to their pensions. No one wants the police department to disappear, but if we are spending that much money on people meant to protect us, shouldn’t we at least know they will not shoot us in the back? The system that condones racial profiling, racism, and criminalization of the youth feeds on fear, and it is not working.
There are many, many ways to keep people safe from crime. Providing education, jobs, and healthy communities are just some examples. If we could act more proactively to prevent the root causes of crime, perhaps we would not need to depend so much on reactive measures, like putting people in our overcrowded prisons and hiring more and more cops.
Get your facts right. The OPD didn’t shoot Oscar Grant in the back. That was the BART Police.
And angry? Hardly. Chagrined is more like it.
Oakland’s cops just got called every nasty name in the book. They’ve had stuff thrown at them. They’ve had their lives threatened. And they acted with admirable restraint and courage.
And so, this post responds to this by accusing them of fomenting a riot, just as they’re about to be told to walk because all they were asking for is a little job security in exchange for some pretty big concessions?
If that’s not a kick in the teeth, I don’t know what is.
These are people with families, with mortgages, with spouses who worry every day — since last year — about their loved ones lives.
Show a little compassion. Please.
no, OPD did not shoot Oscar Grant. But they were the massive police presence at the rally, and the subject of the article. And they have had their share of civilian casualties. And yes, people are angry and calling names, and not all officers are racist or “bad,” but ignoring those who are is unacceptable. Does anyone remember the Riders? It is all part of the same problem, the systemic acceptance of racial profiling and excessive force towards certain populations. I understand OPD wants job security, but so does everyone else in the state. So do all the teachers, social workers, and park rangers. and they also have families, spouses, and mortgages, or at the very least rent due every month. Do we value the people who help raise and teach our children less than those who overwhelmingly target them as criminals?
Is it really that unbelievable to you that people are upset? I think all of our emotions are understandable right now, however extreme they may seem. If we can share those feelings and their causes with each other amicably, maybe we can all come to some shared understanding. Maybe this is an opportunity for communities to come together and be heard, and listen, and work towards progressive, positive change.
Great post Meredith. I love that it sparked the above conversations! I was there to witness the anger and frustration that the community is feeling because of what happened to Oscar Grant. The rally was very peaceful in spite of how the media portrayed it to be.
I can admit that the job of a police officer is hard but so is that of a teacher and a small business owner. That does not give them the authority to shoot young black men in the back.
Why are young men of color almost always the victims of police misconduct? Youth of color are human just like everyone else and they do have potential.
Police should exercise some humanity when dealing with young men of color.
I am happy that the officer was charged.
Are there rallies and riots when police officers are killed?
The long and the short of it is this: there are consequences to our actions. If my daughter, a young woman of color by the way, was to go out and rob a store and then resist arrest, she would most likely be struck with a tazer or shot and then put into jail for her actions. I wouldn’t make a fuss about her being shot, because she was resisting arrest. I wouldn’t be whining and crying because she was going to do jail time for robbing a store because it would be a consequence of her action. We as a nation must learn that there are consequences to our actions. If we do wrong, we are punished in some way. It starts in the home, she understands that if she hooks up with a gang or a “bad” boy then she will suffer the consequences, even if it means jail time. If she aides in the robbery of a store/whatever, or drug deal, she knows that she is going to do time and I won’t lift a finger to prevent it. We need to stop making excuses for our children and start disciplining them and teaching them how to grow up to function in a multicultural society. It’s hard work, but it can be done.
This country needs to turn back to God in a big way. Our problem is that we are edging God out of America. That is scary, because we are a blessed nation due to faithful forefathers, and giving God our trust and respect for all that He has done for us. A Godless nation is a sunk nation…and we are sinking! We are quick to judge and hate one another. We are undisciplined in our thinking; we go by our feelings rather than by truth. God help us all.
BLF, Yes there are. I live in Philadelphia, and have seen the police express their grief for an injured comrade by going downtown and beating anti-corporate protesters. More generally, there are always “rallies” to mourn fallen officers and call for justice in their cases.
@ sahar.
Who’s angry now?
Seriously, though, I get it. You and the folks at Ella Baker Center think you can do more good per taxpayer dollar than the Oakland Police can.
I don’t agree with that position, but it’s a legitimate point of view.
What offends me, however, is that a group that is competing for scarce taxpayer dollars — the Ella Baker Center — is trying to slime Oakland cops by asserting that they tried to gin up a riot.
That’s nonsense.
Worse, yet, it’s counter productive.
One of the first rules of politics is that if you want to have a conversation, you don’t assert that others who are part of the conversation have evil intentions.
This blog post broke that rule.
If you want to make a positive impact, stop trying to slime others with charges that, I suspect, deep down you know to be untrue.
Instead, sit down, acknowledge that everyone in the conversation about Oakland’s future has legitimate interests — interests that sometimes conflict — and start talking instead of pointing fingers.
Hey Brian… I appreciate your point of view as well as the range of responses to my post.
I was not intending to demonize individual members of the Oakland Police Department. I support their right to earn a living and feel safe in their jobs. I applaud the members of the OPD who participate in programs like O.K. to provide mentorship to youth in our town.
I also believe that the OPD has to make some concessions (other than merely giving up a raise they would have gotten in future years), as all other city employees have done, in the process of dealing with Oakland’s huge budget deficit.
My personal experience last Thursday was that the HUGE police presence felt like a missed use of resources and only served to pump up the fears of our community. I saw young men of color get searched, for NO reason, long before any windows were broken. 15 law enforcement agencies were brought in from around the Bay Area. How much did that cost us? What about the much discussed sonic boom machine? In the end, ONLY 9 of the folks arrested were charged with any criminal activity. I wonder what we spent on each of these arrests.
But what really disappointed me was the way that the incidents of violence and the response and presence of the police took up the VAST majority of the coverage and public discourse of last week. And that took away a lot of necessary conversation about the Oscar Grant case itself, the verdict, the history of police brutality against communities of color, and the need for Oakland to come together to redefine and work for true safety, justice and health as a community.
Meredith,
Thanks for clarifying your position, I appreciate it. Open and forceful discussion is always a good thing. So is competition, and I do think you’re really coming at the discussion about Oakland’s future from a really good place.
However, when someone says Simmons is a “poverty pimp,” — as one local activist recently did — or that the police “threw a riot,” — as you did in your headline — I’m concerned that we’re creating a low-trust environment.
I don’t want to point a finger at you. I think you’re coming from a good place, but I want to share my concern that we’re going to get an environment where it’s harder to raise funds for any program, creating a vicious cycle of failure and recrimination that sucks everyone down.
So don’t be afraid to say what you see. At the same time, however, it’s up to the city’s leaders — and I count you folks among them — to help build trust so we can put more resources to work building a stronger city.
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[...] Grant” has come to mean something almost unspeakably important. Meredith Fenton’s “What if the Police Threw a Riot and No One Came” is worth reading, as is the Bay Citizen’s “Untold Stories of the Mehserle [...]