Defend African People's Right to Resist! Vigil for Lovelle Mixon, Oakland, 3/25/09: audio

The International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement (InPDUM) sponsored a march, rally, and vigil for Lovelle Mixon on Wednesday, March 25th. Lovelle Mixon's mother, his wife, several of his brothers, and at least one cousin were present. Many people were upset with the all of the official sympathies expressed for the four police officers who died Saturday, while none was offered to the family of Lovelle Mixon and the Oakland police continue to level new allegations against Lovelle Mixon in the media every day. That the media reports all of those allegations -- and does not hold the police accountable for the numerous people of color killed by Oakland police every year -- was a great source of anger as well. For instance, it has not been reported in the corporate media that one of the officers wounded but not killed on Saturday, Sgt. Patrick Gonzales, is responsible for the deaths of Gary King and Joshua Russell, as well as leaving Ameir Rollins in a quadriplegic state. While new charges against Lovelle Mixon are made every day by Oakland police, the records of the officers killed Saturday remain hidden and there has been little to no public examination of what police did that day.

At the rally at Eastmont Mall, a variety of interpretations of the what happened Saturday were offered, as well as various strategies for fighting the forces that continue to work against Oakland's working class, but everyone was united in that vigorous resistance is needed.

Shanrika and Bakari Olatunji spoke at the Uhuru House before the march headed down MacArthur Blvd, passing the building on 74th Avenue where Lovelle Mixon was killed by an Oakland Police SWAT team. The march continued on to the old police substation at Eastmont Mall where many speakers took turns addressing the crowd. Apparently, the City has not yet returned Lovelle Mixon's body to the family, but they hope to have him back in time for a funeral service on March 31st at Fuller Funeral Home on International Blvd.