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The Protest Against The Shooting Of Oscar Grant

By: eriks

Oakland : CA : USA | 11 months ago

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The Protest Against The Shooting Of Oscar Grant

Posted by: eriks

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Wednesday I went to the protest against the deadly shooting of Oscar Grant in the Fruitvale BART Station, California. Shortly after the shooting, a lot of cellphone video coverage surfaced and with it the awareness of the shooting in the broader public increased.

Going over from the city to Fruitvale you could already in BART feel the emotions of the people in the area. At the protest the atmosphere was intense and emotional. It was a lot of anger, frustration and distress about what has happened. Why did it happen? How could it happen? Was it an accident? Was it a second-degree murder? Why? Why? Why?

I was especially stunned by how many people were afraid of being caught on video and share their thoughts. They were happy to share their thoughts about the shooting, the protest and what they wanted to happen as long as I didn't capture it on film. A friend later told me that there is a built-up distrust against the law enforcement agencies and the authorities in general. The shooting and the of it following events will most likely make that situation even worse.

My main impression from the protest is that the shooting is tragic in so many ways, and that, regardless what happens as far as a legal process, the effects of the event is gonna be long-lasting and not very pleasant.

Again, it is just tragic.

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More News From: Oakland : CA : USA

News Stories

BART officials complete shooting investigation

News Source: San Francisco Chronicle | 11 months ago

Oakland. "We urge the district attorney to expeditiously review all the evidence available to him and bring this investigation to a conclusion."...Grant was lying face-down when Mehserle pulled his service weapon from his holster and fired one shot...
BART completes internal probe of fatal shooting

News Source: Contra Costa Times | 11 months ago

Calif. (AP) — Bay Area Rapid Transit officials on Monday completed their preliminary investigation of the New Year's Day fatal shooting of an unarmed black man by a white police officer and forwarded the results to the district attorney. Police...
BART hears another earful on Oakland death

News Source: The Union | 11 months ago

Several members of the Bay Area Rapid Transit board are holding a meeting in Oakland to help ease tensions surrounding the New Year's Day slaying of an unarmed man by a transit police officer...They heard dozens of people express their frustration...
BART shooting investigation nearing completion

News Source: Contra Costa Times | 11 months ago

Some 30 speakers expressed anger and frustration about the shooting and pace of the investigation. Thursday, many speakers called Sunday for the prompt arrest of Johannes Mehserle, who resigned from the force rather than answer questions about the...
Transit board gets another earful on Oakland death

News Source: Lexington Herald-Leader | 11 months ago

Angry residents criticized transit officials again Sunday for their response to the fatal shooting of an unarmed man by a transit police officer on New Year's Day. About 100 people attended a community meeting hosted by the Bay Area Rapid Transit...
The Shot That Sparked the YouTube Riots [Oscar Grant]

News Source: Gawker | 11 months ago

A transit cop shooting a protester, face down, after a riot in Oakland, Calif. turned into a national story thanks to YouTube, long before local newspapers and TV stations caught up to it. Oscar Grant and others off the train at the Fruitvale station...

Post a Comment Comments: 14

Posted By

amra1 | 11 months ago

Great job Erik, when are going to the Middle East to cover the events?

Posted By

Brodzky | 11 months ago

I commend you on your commitment to community journalism. i suggest more details for those of us who are unfamiliar with the case, but I suppose others, like myself, who want to learn more can do an internet search.

Reply By

amra1 | 11 months ago

Brodzky, you can get more details on the shooting by going to the top of this page and looking at the related allvoices contributions ..the first report is covered by snail outlining the shooting..

also the news stories tab on top and blogs and videos all give the facts, and other materials so you will not have to do a search :-)

A plug for allvoices

Posted By

Brodzky | 11 months ago

I looked at the other stories posted on allvoices. What I saw on the video was a cop murdering somebody. Aside from the crime of murder, for which any citizen should be prosecuted, I saw a violation of public trust that undermines the entire endeavor of law enforcement. The cop is not only a murderer, he's a traitor to his badge.

Reply By

eriks | 11 months ago

The event is really pretty tragic. it is one of those things where noone will win, but everyone will loose. I actually feel sad about the whole thing. The anger I met was overwhelming, yet so understandable. If it is the right thing to turn to. I don't know. it for sure is a tragedy in so many ways.

Posted By

BorderExplorer | 11 months ago

Thanks for a personal report from this newsworthy event!

Reply By

eriks | 11 months ago

It was an experience. It really was an experience. There were so many tangential stories to the protests. The only way we can bridge and overcome the issues we face in our world today is to meet, discuss and interact upon them. Only then will we understand each other to the extent we need to to resolve them. Violence cannot prevail as the only solution. This goes for all of us.

Posted By

InspectorGadget | 11 months ago

It's good that people are standing up against this. There was no reason at all to shoot Oscar Grant. It was murder. Unfortunately, cases like this happen all the time, and law enforcement usually doesn't suffer any consequences. If it wasn't for the videos surfacing the web, this situation probably wouldn't have gotten much coverage. There was a similar case that happened in New York, where an unarmed Sean Bell had 50 shots fired at him by the police in 2006. The cops involved in the shootings were acquitted of all charges. These police departments need some serious reform. Instead of preserving the safety of citizens, they are causing more problems.

Posted By

danish_zikriakhan | 11 months ago

hi friends this is very nice

Posted By

matriarch | 11 months ago

Great capture of the emotions that this tragic event elicited from the community. It shows once again, that violence never helps - at all.

Posted By

linswitzer | 11 months ago

Whereas, I am opposed to violence and police brutality, I have a greater disdain for gangs and gang violence. The people who are protesting violently should be an alert to us all that these people will violently attempt to seize and destroy anything and anyone that is near them without the slightest provocation. If the victim is indeed a part of the gangs violently protesting, then he could have posed a danger to the transit officer that was not captured by the cameras. Take a look at all the property that was destroyed by the violence of the protesters. What did anyone do to illicit such destruction. Before you applaud such violent demonstrations and condemn a man doing his job, wait for the surrounding facts to be disclosed. Furthr, never should such violence be tolerated in America. I believe media prosecution is media persecution.

Reply By

eriks | 11 months ago

I oppose all unnecessary violence so I certainly do not applaud violent demonstrations. I do agree that it is a very fine balance for media to cover these events, and not prosecute before the legal process is even started. Media coverage is so important though.

I think the key in all events such as these is transparency especially since these types of events effects us all whether we like it or not and regardless what is true and false.

We should all learn from what happened and happens, and find ways to make sure it doesn't happen again. I think we can all agree on the fact that noone should have gotten killed in the first place. Fundamentally something went wrong and we should find a way to make sure it doesn't go wrong again.

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