Oscar Grant: Wake Up America

"Those who eulogized Grant did not address the shooting, which was
captured on video by at least two BART riders and has stirred outrage
among those who believe the incident was tantamount to an execution.  At
virtually the moment the service was getting under way, the lawyer and
union representative for the officer who shot Grant, Johannes Mehserle,
were submitting his resignation to BART officials." 

Comments:

Comment #1 by Anika on January 9, 2009 - 8:55am

This was such a rude awakening to my bejamin buttoned bliss.  Back to reality. 
the YouTube brought me to my knees, in a cacophony of wails and sobs. 
If anyone hears of a vigil/rally already organized in nyc area please advise.  Police brutality is legal, and federally sanctioned.  The war against Black life globally is just as severe as the myriad Middle Eastern conflicts. 

Moment of Silence

Comment #2 by rebecca on January 9, 2009 - 10:06am

Yes. 

Comment #3 by Anonymous on January 10, 2009 - 5:00am

I concur.  As abrasive and outright as this event was, still there's no justice for Mr. Grant's life which was lost.  I am in Oakland, in the midst of the tension where the events and aftermath are taking place.  There is punishment for rally-go-ers setting cars ablaze, but there still remains no punishment for the resigned BART police officer.  You cannot tell me that blacks must continue to stay silent globally and locally or that Middle Eastern conflicts or otherwise must be ignored and or temporarily made to be hushed.  Change is underway but its a newer revolution sprouting up...humanity is crying out loud. 

Comment #4 by Anonymous on January 11, 2009 - 10:11pm

The protest, the spirit of sticking up for what you believe it and even the reprehensible anarchists are what made the BAY AREA GREAT once.  I wonder if seeing Obama take office has galvanized younger people to protest?  Now they can see that action gets results. 

THIS IS THE SPIRIT OF THE SF/BAY AREA. 

Not silicon valley or a bunch of stupid over priced restaurants with their calorie laden organic food.  Not all of the generic transplants who came there to drive our rents up and gentrify our existence.  Johannes Mehserle may have been from Napa but he symbolizes the "Dan White factor" in the new Bay Area for me.  The high school he went to has turned out some MEAN ass slacker geeks-computers and guns have replaced DnD.

Some transplants are good people don't get me wrong, but many of them have killed the spirit of what the Bay truly is:FREE SPEECH CENTRAL for the entire world. Angela Davis, the late Mario Savio, Harvey Milk and Evan Shamar who organized the peaceful protest and wept when some started rioting, are all great citizens of the Bay Area for their openness and tireless efforts to make the world a better place. 
The crazies rioting need to realize that if they really want to run the show and change things they should stop destroying their environment and start getting focused on channel the anger into real change and make the Bay Area great again.