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Indybay Feature
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.
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.
Listen now:
(audio 8:07)
Vigil Announcement:
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/03/23/18581462.php
Uhuru Movement statement on killing of four Oakland officers and Lovell Mixon:
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/03/25/18582442.php
Uhuru will be hosting an African Village Survival Initiative focusing on food, water, energy, and economic self-reliance this Sunday, March 29th, at 4pm at the Uhuru House. Topics covered will include community gardens, rainwater catchment, solar energy, and self-sufficient economic institutions.
International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement
Uhuru House: 7911 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland
http://www.uhurusolidarityoakland.blogspot.com/
One year ago, on March 27th, another rally was held at Eastmont Mall for the police killings of both 15-year-old Jose Luis Buenrostro-Gonzalez and 70-year-old Casper Banjo:
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/03/26/18488760.php
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/03/28/18489121.php
Reports related to Lovelle Mixon from the Indybay newswire:
Vigil Announcement:
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/03/23/18581462.php
Uhuru Movement statement on killing of four Oakland officers and Lovell Mixon:
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/03/25/18582442.php
Uhuru will be hosting an African Village Survival Initiative focusing on food, water, energy, and economic self-reliance this Sunday, March 29th, at 4pm at the Uhuru House. Topics covered will include community gardens, rainwater catchment, solar energy, and self-sufficient economic institutions.
International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement
Uhuru House: 7911 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland
http://www.uhurusolidarityoakland.blogspot.com/
One year ago, on March 27th, another rally was held at Eastmont Mall for the police killings of both 15-year-old Jose Luis Buenrostro-Gonzalez and 70-year-old Casper Banjo:
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/03/26/18488760.php
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/03/28/18489121.php
Reports related to Lovelle Mixon from the Indybay newswire:
For more information:
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/03/2...
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I see. So it was ok to shoot Sgt Gonzales in the head because he shot people in the line of duty?What justification do you have for Mr. Mixon to shoot Officer Hege and Sgt Dunakin in the face? Was the 12 year old girl he raped asking for it? Was he thinking about his family there in the apartment when he began blindly firing an AK-47 through a closet door? What about the neighbors? An AK-47 round will go right through an apartment wall.
Why don't you find a better saint and martyr for the cause? The choice of Lovelle Mixon is just making you look ridiculous.
Why don't you find a better saint and martyr for the cause? The choice of Lovelle Mixon is just making you look ridiculous.
this is a perfect example of what the black population of toady lives by...rob rape kill. Ask his wife how she feels about him raping a 12 year old...oh, I forgot, that is another fabrication, right? There will never be peace until black peolpe get off their asses and do something for themselves instead of blaming whitey. By the way I'm black....
"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 (emphasis mine) of Lovelle Mixon"
What is so hard to understand here? If you want simple answers, you're going to get simple solutions; meanwhile, all the social problems surrounding this situation, from cop violence to black-on-black violence, are going to continue. At least, that's the way I see it, as do many others who post here. You may not agree, and that is your right - but please stop trying to make us into your whipping posts.
What is so hard to understand here? If you want simple answers, you're going to get simple solutions; meanwhile, all the social problems surrounding this situation, from cop violence to black-on-black violence, are going to continue. At least, that's the way I see it, as do many others who post here. You may not agree, and that is your right - but please stop trying to make us into your whipping posts.
"Lovell was a hero" ??? wtf?? If we want the police to treat us as individuals and not stereotype us, we should do the same for them. A bad BART cop does not mean all cops are bad. Also, what are we teaching our kids when we hold vigils for child-raping, car-jacking, thieving, murderous career criminals and call them "a hero" and "a soldier"?
The stories of rape against Mixon are ALLEGATIONS. It is wrong and irresponsible to talk about Mixon as a convicted rapist.
Tommorrow's (3/27) Memorial will be a de facto Right Wing rally . Aside from all the tributes from their family, neighbors (None from Oakland . Notice that none of these cops who ''laid down their lives for Oakland '' wanted to live here ! ) fellow cops etc. the message will be SUPPORT'' YOUR ''POLICE !!!!(IE Don't question the Police accounts on this or any other incidents, don't sue (or support people that do ) the city when you or your family member are beaten , falsely arrested or killed , don't demostrate against Police violence , don't fight for prison reform or sane parole /probation polices and so on )
I wouldn't be surprised if Johannes Mehserle attends . If so he probably will get a heros welcome ! Who knows ? Maybe the anticpated large NYPD contingent will include the detectives that murdered Amadou Diallo .
Now as for Mixon . It's crazy to compare him to Malcom X ! Malcom X had been a anti-social criminal who , in his own words ''preyed on my own community ''. It's only after he had both a religious and political coversion that he became Malcom X who evolved into a dynamic Black Leader fighting for social and racial justice .
MAYBE if he had lived he would have evolved in a similar direction. But at the time of his death he was light years from being any sort of '' Freedom Fighter '' .
I wouldn't be surprised if Johannes Mehserle attends . If so he probably will get a heros welcome ! Who knows ? Maybe the anticpated large NYPD contingent will include the detectives that murdered Amadou Diallo .
Now as for Mixon . It's crazy to compare him to Malcom X ! Malcom X had been a anti-social criminal who , in his own words ''preyed on my own community ''. It's only after he had both a religious and political coversion that he became Malcom X who evolved into a dynamic Black Leader fighting for social and racial justice .
MAYBE if he had lived he would have evolved in a similar direction. But at the time of his death he was light years from being any sort of '' Freedom Fighter '' .
Nice try. :P Your logic is impeccable here, y'all.
You clearly are out either to troll, or to bait people into an argument, or who knows. All I know is that I've made my views clear, as have many on the site - and you want to distort things into your black and white version of things. How lovely it must be for you to live in such a monochromatic world, where all you need to do is hate on people to convince yourselves that you're right. How honorable it must be for you to call for blood rather than to seek compassion. How noble! How Christian! How utterly contemptible. You're every bit as bad as the people who you denounce, as well as the ones you uphold. Bravo, winners - bravo. Feel free to keep on making my point. It's entertaining, if nothing else.
You clearly are out either to troll, or to bait people into an argument, or who knows. All I know is that I've made my views clear, as have many on the site - and you want to distort things into your black and white version of things. How lovely it must be for you to live in such a monochromatic world, where all you need to do is hate on people to convince yourselves that you're right. How honorable it must be for you to call for blood rather than to seek compassion. How noble! How Christian! How utterly contemptible. You're every bit as bad as the people who you denounce, as well as the ones you uphold. Bravo, winners - bravo. Feel free to keep on making my point. It's entertaining, if nothing else.
"The stories of rape against Mixon are ALLEGATIONS. It is wrong and irresponsible to talk about Mixon as a convicted rapist. "
But what if they find him guilty of the rape? Throw his rotting corpse in jail? Where's the justice for the 12 year old?
Are his murders just allegations in your eyes too?
You only think of justice on your terms, if you cared you'd be helping out the girls family instead of defending a copkiller.
But what if they find him guilty of the rape? Throw his rotting corpse in jail? Where's the justice for the 12 year old?
Are his murders just allegations in your eyes too?
You only think of justice on your terms, if you cared you'd be helping out the girls family instead of defending a copkiller.
"And, yes, we also don't believe cops should go around killing people either"
Then why not work together on this, rather than being at each other's throats over what we disagree on? Also, if you read the posts here, many of us are offering a more detailed analysis than "Yay, Lovelle", so please stop trying to paint everybody who doesn't agree with you 100% as your arch-enemy. OK?
Then why not work together on this, rather than being at each other's throats over what we disagree on? Also, if you read the posts here, many of us are offering a more detailed analysis than "Yay, Lovelle", so please stop trying to paint everybody who doesn't agree with you 100% as your arch-enemy. OK?
long live mixon,he is the only person to tell the cops to shape up.where were the rest of america when others have been tazed to death on video? its time for all peoples to speak up white black and everything.say no to violence death . demonizing mixon prevents you from ensuring thr cessation of police violence
Of all the bullshit, juvenile, pretend-politics in the bay area, this is so over the top, that it would seem to be some horrible satire, but it's not.
I was raised as a good liberal kid, in a midwestern city with its own serious racial divide, but unfortunate reality has eroded those childish ideals; my feelings have just crystallized into hatred.
I feel for the decent people, who live in this war zone, but they're cut loose, as far as I am concerned.
If they wish to arm themselves, and rid their communities of the thugculture cancer that is eviscerating them, fine. If they don't wish there to be police in their neighborhoods, also fine.
You lost me. And there are many. many more.
I was raised as a good liberal kid, in a midwestern city with its own serious racial divide, but unfortunate reality has eroded those childish ideals; my feelings have just crystallized into hatred.
I feel for the decent people, who live in this war zone, but they're cut loose, as far as I am concerned.
If they wish to arm themselves, and rid their communities of the thugculture cancer that is eviscerating them, fine. If they don't wish there to be police in their neighborhoods, also fine.
You lost me. And there are many. many more.
"full of hate, many more of us, blah blah"
Look. While my politics are to the left of Obama's, that doesn't change the fact that Obama won, and the whole right wing wacknuts brigade lost - because the majority of people in the US rejected the whole "lock 'em up and fry their ass" mentality of the Bush years. So where's your army of haters now? Sorry to be so harsh, but fuck, people. You think we're bad? You need to take a look in the mirror - many of you (but not all) don't even want to have a dialog -- which is on your head, not ours.
Look. While my politics are to the left of Obama's, that doesn't change the fact that Obama won, and the whole right wing wacknuts brigade lost - because the majority of people in the US rejected the whole "lock 'em up and fry their ass" mentality of the Bush years. So where's your army of haters now? Sorry to be so harsh, but fuck, people. You think we're bad? You need to take a look in the mirror - many of you (but not all) don't even want to have a dialog -- which is on your head, not ours.
so there are many racists who read this site. didnt knoiw that.makes me more than ever determined to get rid of police state.and be aware of racists by the bay and all over the nation by way of correspondence. we are watching the united states and monitoring police activities and military ros;;89 red br..org. int. data
My point is that Mixon is being demonized as a child rapist when we can't even be sure that the allegations are true or not. We are in no position to tell if the story is a fabrication on the part of the police or if it is true. I actually spend 90% of my time working on violence against women issues, and with this in mind, I am alarmed at how these allegations of rape are being used to shrug Mixon off as a monster and to disavow the serious issues of racism and disproportionate incarceration in the United States. I have actually donated money to Mixon's wife and have worked for years on projects that ensure people like her finish school, have access to day care and get the social support they need...
"I have actually donated money to Mixon's wife and have worked for years on projects that ensure people like her finish school, have access to day care and get the social support they need..."
Wow, so you think that actually doing something to help the communities in question is the answer? I thought being a big-ass Internet shit-talking redneck hater was the answer. /sarcasm
Thanks for putting your money where your mouth is, and actually doing something to help, instead of just pointing fingers. For real.
Wow, so you think that actually doing something to help the communities in question is the answer? I thought being a big-ass Internet shit-talking redneck hater was the answer. /sarcasm
Thanks for putting your money where your mouth is, and actually doing something to help, instead of just pointing fingers. For real.
I appreciate your comments on indybay! Please keep them coming!
Thanks :)) Will do!
I would like to donate money and mutual aid to Mixon's widow. Please leave some info about how I can do that.
Also, remember the guys attacked by the tiger at the SF Zoo on x-mas day a few years ago? That scumbag publicist Sam Singer started leaking stories to demonize them. Then BART hired him to try to spin Oscar Grant as a thug. I wouldn't doubt that OPD hired him and he fabricated the rape story. It's his job.
Also, remember the guys attacked by the tiger at the SF Zoo on x-mas day a few years ago? That scumbag publicist Sam Singer started leaking stories to demonize them. Then BART hired him to try to spin Oscar Grant as a thug. I wouldn't doubt that OPD hired him and he fabricated the rape story. It's his job.
police fabricate charges all the time.they pick out something you have on you and call it a weapon,throw you in jail for six figure bail.america is a fascist police state that needs to GO!
contact UHURU. they are in touch with the family and can help you pass on financial or other support to the family, as well as provide updated info on when the funeral will be
Taylor is right on . Friday will probably be like a National Cop convention with a political agenda , back the police no matter what they do . I condemm what Mixon did on saturday . I do not know about the rape allegation . If it's true he was a predator on the Black Communty. If true . I am suspicious about the timing of this revelation. Another thing that is worth noting that various TV reports quoted the OPD as claiming that after Mixon seriously wounded the Cycle cops he then took the time to execute them . The OPD said it had witnesses . But for the last two days that story has disappered .
I do not trust either criminals or cops . But of the two the Police are the more dangerous . Why ?
Because they have the power of the state and the corporate media behind them .
Criminals often go to prison for life or the death row for their killings . Police almost never do,
I may go tommorrow to observe . Despite the undoubted good intentions of many of the ''civilians '' who'll attend i have no doubt it will be a Law and Order rally .
I do not trust either criminals or cops . But of the two the Police are the more dangerous . Why ?
Because they have the power of the state and the corporate media behind them .
Criminals often go to prison for life or the death row for their killings . Police almost never do,
I may go tommorrow to observe . Despite the undoubted good intentions of many of the ''civilians '' who'll attend i have no doubt it will be a Law and Order rally .
As a black woman I cannot believe Lovell is being honored for murder and rape. I am ashamed that people are doing this. He murdered 4 men and raped multiple women and A CHILD. I truely cannot believe this. There are so many other black men in our communities that SHOULD be honored, that have not murdered or raped anyone.
Get your priorities straight. This is just sick and disgusting.
Get your priorities straight. This is just sick and disgusting.
It should be a policy on this discussion forum that if anyone brings up the media "spin" that's coming directly from the cops, without anything to support it, that it's a fabrication.
Whether it's the scummy spin doctors who get paid to lie, like Sam Singer, or the COINTELPRO provocateurs that work with the cops to demonize people, we should be skeptical of EVERYTHING they say or write.
What's next: he was a Satanic drug dealing cannibal who ate babies? Don't laugh, as the lying escalates it could get that bad. Just read the history of how the cops constantly did shit like that against the Black Panthers and other radical groups.
Please, please, please turn on your bullshit detectors when people start mimicking the exact same things the cops are saying. Same with the bourgeois media. Question their source, but more importantly question their intention Skepticism is a good quality to develop these days.
Whether it's the scummy spin doctors who get paid to lie, like Sam Singer, or the COINTELPRO provocateurs that work with the cops to demonize people, we should be skeptical of EVERYTHING they say or write.
What's next: he was a Satanic drug dealing cannibal who ate babies? Don't laugh, as the lying escalates it could get that bad. Just read the history of how the cops constantly did shit like that against the Black Panthers and other radical groups.
Please, please, please turn on your bullshit detectors when people start mimicking the exact same things the cops are saying. Same with the bourgeois media. Question their source, but more importantly question their intention Skepticism is a good quality to develop these days.
The sudden DNA discovery that Mixon was the rapist is really suspicious. With the anger towards the police in Oakland, it is easy to see someone reaching for any convenient story to vilify someone who was being taken as a hero. I'm not holding my breath about the truth coming out soon here either - remember, since he's dead, there will be no trial, the Oakland PD only has to release what it feels like releasing and there's no one who will interrogate it now (maybe an investigative journalist five year do the line will be able to prove or disprove things to my satisfaction but maybe not even that).
I still think it's a mistake to just call Mixon a hero. I bet he felt more desperation and anger than heroism.
I think you should look at the original story his family told. He couldn't find work, he was on parole and afraid of going back to jail.
THAT is pretty easy to understand. I don't want glorify cop killing. But I would like to direct people's attention to the fact that if legal system AND the economy together put people in a situation where they are forced back to California's harsh, tortuous prisons regardless of their efforts to "straighten out", these people WILL be desperate. Some number will fight back.
If the people rise up and actually take over Oakland, it would be better not to have revenge killings. It is important to understand that there is a reason people, especially African American people, are angry at the cops.
I still think it's a mistake to just call Mixon a hero. I bet he felt more desperation and anger than heroism.
I think you should look at the original story his family told. He couldn't find work, he was on parole and afraid of going back to jail.
THAT is pretty easy to understand. I don't want glorify cop killing. But I would like to direct people's attention to the fact that if legal system AND the economy together put people in a situation where they are forced back to California's harsh, tortuous prisons regardless of their efforts to "straighten out", these people WILL be desperate. Some number will fight back.
If the people rise up and actually take over Oakland, it would be better not to have revenge killings. It is important to understand that there is a reason people, especially African American people, are angry at the cops.
To add to the mix KPFA reported this morning that there is a ''unconfirmed report '' that Mayor Dellums is being barred from speaking at today's memorial . Now as i wrote i think this rally will have the political tenor of a right wing Law n' Order event , despite ,as someone else wrote , the subjective intent of maybe many of the ''civilian'' attendeees .
But think about it . The Mayor isn't invited ! Why ? Perhaps because he ordered the OPD to investigate Oscar Grant's killing the same as any other homicide .
Aren't the Police supposed to be under the authority of the elected city govt. ?
But think about it . The Mayor isn't invited ! Why ? Perhaps because he ordered the OPD to investigate Oscar Grant's killing the same as any other homicide .
Aren't the Police supposed to be under the authority of the elected city govt. ?
after today's jumbo cop rally with majority white forces uniting against citizens of oakland, and all of the hagiographies broadcast all over TV, the california legislature will be too afraid of confronting cops and their unions to even dare try to open up the police bill of rights or deal with any other reasonable police reform
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/02/25/18573293.php
citizens of poorer communities, especially those of color, will continue to pay for this police unaccountability with their lives
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/02/25/18573293.php
citizens of poorer communities, especially those of color, will continue to pay for this police unaccountability with their lives
Cops who roll into town to collect a paycheck in Oakland and then head back to the 'burbs kill unarmed people all of the time. It was like 8 people last year. They shot 45 people in the last 5 years, many in the back, from 15 year olds to 70 year olds. And not one of them is ever held to account in any way.
While personal responsibility should not be tossed aside, no amount of "looking within" is going to fix the ongoing travesty of police violence and lack of accountability.
While personal responsibility should not be tossed aside, no amount of "looking within" is going to fix the ongoing travesty of police violence and lack of accountability.
"Is the other 10% of your time spent ignoring blatant crimes that you choose? Time for you to STFU."
I can't speak for her, but I have her back. If your idea of a meaningful dialogue is "STFU", perhaps you're the one who needs to take a time out.
I can't speak for her, but I have her back. If your idea of a meaningful dialogue is "STFU", perhaps you're the one who needs to take a time out.
....AND the vigil for the 4 fallen officers the day before.
sorry, there are no concrete divisions in life.
many of us can hold great complexities, controversial values and beliefs - simultaneously.
it's called flexibility and tolerance.
if you declare your reality as truth and attempt to define reality for others, you are no different from the playground bully.
ideas of "either-or's" are limiting, out-dated, create division, and perpetuate the tragedies we see. for example:
"mixon is either 'bad' or 'good.'"
"either you support the officers or mixon."
"either you're with 'us' or with 'them.'"
"you're either 'white' or 'colored'."
"both-and's" are less obvious but more true to the human experience, can be healing, and are the key to end human-on-human violence:
i feel anger toward AND sadness for mixon.
i feel mistrust AND relief when i see a cop car.
i understand and empathize with BOTH sides of the story.
i grieve with Mark Dunakin, John Hege, Ervin Romans and Daniel Sakai's families AND Lovelle Mixon's family.
attendees and organizers of the vigil were making a stand against the systematic oppression, the exploitation, and the killings of people of the African community. it is very difficult for many of you to understand this concept, let alone empathize with the day to day oppression the community has to face. that is the definition of "privilege."
but if you are interested in learning more, i encourage you to attend a meeting at the uhuru house rather than sit at home on the computer. you will find human beings making sacrifices and fighting to make life better for the community. they may not wear a badge or have fancy sirens on their cars but they too are heroes. slandering is a lot easier when you don't know anything about the group and it's members.
if you're tired of what you see, then join a cause.
otherwise, you're just a spectator and no better than those you criticize.
sorry, there are no concrete divisions in life.
many of us can hold great complexities, controversial values and beliefs - simultaneously.
it's called flexibility and tolerance.
if you declare your reality as truth and attempt to define reality for others, you are no different from the playground bully.
ideas of "either-or's" are limiting, out-dated, create division, and perpetuate the tragedies we see. for example:
"mixon is either 'bad' or 'good.'"
"either you support the officers or mixon."
"either you're with 'us' or with 'them.'"
"you're either 'white' or 'colored'."
"both-and's" are less obvious but more true to the human experience, can be healing, and are the key to end human-on-human violence:
i feel anger toward AND sadness for mixon.
i feel mistrust AND relief when i see a cop car.
i understand and empathize with BOTH sides of the story.
i grieve with Mark Dunakin, John Hege, Ervin Romans and Daniel Sakai's families AND Lovelle Mixon's family.
attendees and organizers of the vigil were making a stand against the systematic oppression, the exploitation, and the killings of people of the African community. it is very difficult for many of you to understand this concept, let alone empathize with the day to day oppression the community has to face. that is the definition of "privilege."
but if you are interested in learning more, i encourage you to attend a meeting at the uhuru house rather than sit at home on the computer. you will find human beings making sacrifices and fighting to make life better for the community. they may not wear a badge or have fancy sirens on their cars but they too are heroes. slandering is a lot easier when you don't know anything about the group and it's members.
if you're tired of what you see, then join a cause.
otherwise, you're just a spectator and no better than those you criticize.
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