As the year draws to a close, the Ella’s Voice Team decided to look at some of the important stories, highlight some awesome Orgs, and throw some shine on the individuals that helped to shape Oakland in 2010. Here are numbers 6-10 (NOT listed in order of importance or inspiration).… Read more
On Friday, we witnessed a former BART Police Officer receive a sentence of two years for the murder of unarmed passenger Oscar Grant. I can’t help but look at the murder, the trial and now the sentence with the youth of Heal the Streets in mind.
Two questions… Read more
For many years before becoming the Executive Director at the Ella Baker Center, I worked with our Books Not Bars campaign which transforms our juvenile justice system to invest in young people, their families, and our communities. Since its inception, the campaign has helped close four of the notoriously… Read more
I’m looking forward to spending a day outside, hopefully in the sun (if this funny weather lets-up) at tomorrow’s Fresh Fest, organized by Grind for the Green.
The “green” movement has really taken off in the United States over the past few years, but… Read more
This post is part of our Silence the Violence series in commemoration of National Silence the Violence Day on July 24th, 2010.
On Thursday July 8, I stood at the corner of 14th and Clay in downtown Oakland as lines of police officers marched through Read more
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… Read more
Today, one juror in the trial of Johannes Mehserle called in sick and another leaves for a vacation in the morning. Therefore, alternate jurors will have to be brought in and the deliberations will start anew.
Despite these temporary setbacks, buzz continues to build — a chorus of voices demanding… Read more
On New Year’s day 2009, Johannes Mehserle shot Oscar Grant in the back, that much is clear. What’s less clear is what justice in this case should look like.
I am clear that Mehserle must be held accountable. But that alone is not justice. Locking him up… Read more
Jury selection begins Wednesday in the case of former Bay Area Rapid Transit police officer Johannes Mehserle who is accused of fatally shooting the unarmed Oscar Grant on a train platform on New Year’s Day last year. Mehserle has pleaded not guilty to killing Oscar Grant III, a 22-year-old… Read more
