Rally in Support of Oscar Grant Arrestees and for Justice

WHO: The Oscar Grant Committee Against Police Brutality and State Repression

WHAT: Press Conference and Rally demanding the Alameda County District Attorney drop all charges against 152 people illegally arrested on November 5, 2010 while marching against the sentencing of Johannes Mehserle, former BART police officer who killed unarmed, prone Oscar Grant on January 1, 2009.

WHEN: Friday, November 19, 2010, 3:00 p.m. Press Conference, 4:00 p.m. Rally

WHERE: District Attorney’s Office, 12th and Oak Streets, Oakland, CA 94612

WHY: On November 5th, former BART police officer Johannes Mehserle was sentenced to two years for the shooting death of Oscar Grant, III. That day hundreds marched against the “slap on the wrist” sentence and to honor Oscar Grant. This Friday, November 19th, community organizers will expose the Oakland Police Department’s fabrications about the march and the illegal arrests of 152 people, and will call on the District Attorney to take immediate action in the Johannes Mehserle criminal case.

Specifically, organizers will demand that the District Attorney refrain from filing charges against those arrested on November 5th, or drop any charges already filed before arraignments begin on December 2, 2010. Organizers will also call on the District Attorney to drop the charges against all protesters arrested since January of 2009, because the failure of the local government – including the District Attorney’s Office – was a cause of every protest since, as they all failed to investigate, condemn and/or file charges against Johannes Mehserle immediately after he murdered Oscar Grant. Lastly, organizers call on the Alameda County District Attorney to immediately appeal Judge Robert Perry’s decision to override the jury’s conviction of Johannes Mehserle for the use of a firearm during the commission of a crime.