Anti Police-Terror Project hosts vigil for Yuvette Hendersen and delivers demands to OPD

On Sunday, April 12th, The Anti Police-Terror Project held a rally and vigil to continue demanding justice for Yuvette Henderson. Yuvette was gunned down with an AR-15 assault rifle in February by Emeryville Police after being assaulted by security guards at Home Depot.

This is the second action called for by APTP. The first one, on February 15th, shut down both the Emeryville Police Department and Home Depot for nine hours. During that action, APTP delivered letters to Home Depot, OPD, EPD and Extra Space Storage demanding they release the footage of Yuvette’s murder. None of them complied.

Yuvette’s brother Jamison and sister Antoinette were present for the vigil and spoke about their love for their sister, her commitment to her community and their shared grief over her loss.

After the vigil, organizers from the Anti Police-Terror Project set about delivering a second set of letters to those complicit or witnesses in Yuvette’s death. They started with Extra Space Storage, who for the second time closed its doors for the day in preparation for the protests. Extra Space Storage has video cameras pointed at the scene of Yuvette’s murder, but has so far refused to release their tapes to Yuvette’s family. They then led a caravan of vehicles to the Home Depot where Yuvette was assaulted by security guards. During that assault, Yuvette sustained a head injury so severe, an ambulance had to be called.

Over 40 cars lined up in front of the home improvement store but before they could get out of their cars, Home Depot shut their doors, locking customers inside, and refused to accept the letter. Yuvette’s sister slid it through the metal gate as she shouted “Justice for Yuvette.”



The caravan then made its way through Oakland toward the Oakland Police Department. As they drove along, community members honked, cheered, clapped and shouted in support and joined the call for justice.

OPD is overseeing the investigation of Yuvette’s murder and has possession of dashcam footage of the incident. They should release those recordings to her family so they know what truly happened to Yuvette. In anticipation of the protest, OPD blocked off all roads leading to the station in an attempt to prevent protesters from delivering their peaceful message.

Facing the blue wall, Cat Brooks (ONYX Organizing Committee/APTP) challenged the police to take the letter and Lt. Brandon Wehrly accepted it, promising to deliver it to Chief Whent on Monday morning. APTP has since heard that the letter was delivered to the Chief.

Yuvette Henderson didn't have to die. And the police can’t be trusted to tell the truth about their own violence.

The Anti Police-Terror Project Demands:

OPD, Home Depot and Extra Space Storage release the tapes of Yuvette’s murder to her family.
Fire Officers Williams & Shephard
End the use of military weapons by EPD

The Anti Police-Terror Project is a group of concerned organizations and individuals working to build a replicable and sustainable model for ending police terror in communities of color. We are led by those most impacted by police violence, but are a multi-racial, multi-generational coalition. We meet the third Wednesday of every month at Eastside Arts Alliance at 7:30 pm.

Facebook: @Anti Police-Terror Project
Twitter: @aptpaction