On November 18, 2011, a campus police officer at UC Davis used pepper spray on a row of seated students peacefully protesting. A cell phone video of the incident went viral, made national headlines, and even inspired an internet meme. The most disturbing feature of the video, and a… Read more
One of the most rewarding aspects of my work at the Ella Baker Center is supporting our different programs and campaigns. As the Director of Programs, I often assist events where I see our staff do what we do best: engage those directly wounded by social and economic injustice and… Read more
As a young woman of color, I find it hard to stay focused in Oakland. Every night while I do my homework, I hear the rattling of gunshots bouncing off the cement sidewalks. I hear people yelling and crying after getting a call from the hospital, telling them a… Read more
Last Thursday evening, Kayode Ola Foster was fatally shot near the Occupy Oakland camp. While his nearly lifeless body lay in a hospital bed, politicians rushed to the sidewalk where his blood was still drying and declared that the Occupy Camp must go. One politician said the camp Read more
The 13th Annual International Transgender Day of Remembrance will honor transgender and gender variant individuals killed due to anti-transgender violence around the world over the previous twelve months. The National Day falls on Sunday, November 20.
A county-wide event will be held in Oakland on Friday, November 18,… Read more
Last Wednesday at the Oakland general strike, I along with thousands of demonstrators chanted, “We are the 99%! We are the 99%! We are the 99%!” I honestly felt proud, powerful and conflicted all at the same time. In one sense, I’m thrilled that there is a movement… Read more
As long as I have been politically engaged, I have watched how almost any protest or direct action somehow ends up with an element of vandalism. Sometimes, small potatoes- graffiti here or there. Ranging to more serious acts such as the window breaking and big scale distraction at a few… Read more
“If #occupyoakland was in Damascus, U.S. State department would be telling Wolf Blitzer how unacceptable it was to teargas peaceful marchers.”@techsoc
As two activists who have called Oakland home, we are appalled at the events of our city in the last 36 hours. Last night the country joined… Read more
We, at the Ella Baker Center are appalled at the City of Oakland’s violent response to the peaceful Occupy Oakland protestors. Many of our staff and community members experienced the violence first-hand. The excessive use of force was in no way warranted in response to un-armed,
The last 24 hours have been a nightmarish whirlwind in the city of Oakland, and I honestly don’t think that it had to be this way.
Say what you will about the Occupy Wall Street Movement- critique the cause, the organizing strategy, the participants and whatever else you would like… Read more
