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Gone But Not Forgotten - Justice for Oscar Grant! Community Rally, Fruitvale BART: audio & photos
On the first anniversary of the murder of Oscar Grant III by BART police officer Johannes Mehserle, family members organized a vigil at the Fruitvale BART station where Oscar was shot and killed. Community activists, organized as the General Assembly for Justice for Oscar Grant, planned for a rally at the Fruitvale station to commence at the conclusion of the vigil and a cultural gathering for the evening at the Humanist Hall in Oakland. This is the second of three posts on anniversary events.
The ill-fated community rally at the Fruitvale BART station lasted for only about 20 minutes. You can read more details on the back story in the previous report on the family vigil -- details on the interference, harassment, and disruption by BART, Mayor Dellums' office, the Oakland police department, and a "concerned citizen" who did not want the community to hold events that allowed community members to truly speak their minds about the lack of justice yet achieved for Oscar Grant one year after his murder.
The first on stage at the community rally were a youth poetry group. Then Hannibal (pictured above) spoke about the many injustices perpetrated against young African American men by police. Next up was the Revolution Club and finally MC Tony Coleman (audio below) before the rally was shut down by Oakland City Councilperson Desley Brooks, supposedly on behalf of OPD and BART. Organizers never intended for the rally to last much more than 45 minutes as the main show was at the Humanist Hall anyway. But to be cut off was just another aggravation in a long line of officials disrespecting community activists regarding January 1st events.
Demand Strong Civilian Oversight at Assembly Hearing on BART Police Oversight, Tuesday, January 12: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/12/22/18633424.php
There is currently a memorial at Fruitvale BART on the bus side of the station for those interested to leave candles, notes, and other mementos and statements that BART said it will allow for ten days. Feel free to contribute to it while you still can.
The first on stage at the community rally were a youth poetry group. Then Hannibal (pictured above) spoke about the many injustices perpetrated against young African American men by police. Next up was the Revolution Club and finally MC Tony Coleman (audio below) before the rally was shut down by Oakland City Councilperson Desley Brooks, supposedly on behalf of OPD and BART. Organizers never intended for the rally to last much more than 45 minutes as the main show was at the Humanist Hall anyway. But to be cut off was just another aggravation in a long line of officials disrespecting community activists regarding January 1st events.
Demand Strong Civilian Oversight at Assembly Hearing on BART Police Oversight, Tuesday, January 12: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/12/22/18633424.php
There is currently a memorial at Fruitvale BART on the bus side of the station for those interested to leave candles, notes, and other mementos and statements that BART said it will allow for ten days. Feel free to contribute to it while you still can.
For more information:
http://indybay.org/oscargrant
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