Justice for Oscar Grant
Most readers of Revolution by the Book are probably familiar with the case of Oscar Grant. Well yesterday the BART cop who killed him, Johannes Mehserle, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter. It’s been a tense issue in the Bay for the last eighteen months and will certainly remain so. Much of downtown Oakland was boarded up all week while we waited to hear the verdict. Despite the pathetic coverage coming out of local news sources about “professional anarchists” coming to “pimp” local youth, people took to the streets tonight to have their say… though we may not have heard the last from Oakland’s youth.
For up-to-date news on the case and demonstrations, check out Indybay.
As the police worked to regain control of downtown and protesters melted back into the night I took the opportunity to walk the empty streets. By one a.m. you would have thought it was Christmas Eve in Oakland, except for the nature of the gifts left behind. Here’s a look at the aftermath of today’s demonstrations. No telling how much of it will be painted over and replaced by morning so here’s your own personal tour through the post-riot zone.
[p.s. dear readers it’s late and I added lighthearted captions, sorry if they take away from the severity of the actions]
| Oscar Grant mural |
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| We want to hear your story (as long as it doesn’t include violence) |
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| Riot for Oscar |
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| It was nice of the police to add targets |
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| Footlocker got looted |
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| Somebody decided to wear theirs right away |
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| Sears always seemed so impenetrable before |
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| Outdoor living |
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| Hayward police van |
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| Riot squad looking for sensible shoes |
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| Board meeting is canceled |
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| Banks get all the breaks |
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| Welcome to the future |
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| Direct and to the point |
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| Somebody has an awful sake hangover this morning |
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| Oops |
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| There’s a hole in Whole Foods! |
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| Fight usury |
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| Stay cool |
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| Sure to become a permanent fixture of the Community Bank of the Bay |
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| Black Bloc, Gold Fronts |
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| Somebody was after both |
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| The guy on the right wanted to know if he was going to be on youtube |
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| Down but not out |
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| Charred dumpster, possibly containing the remains of a hipster |
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| Someone didn’t see the sign |
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| Maybe they should have put signs facing all directions |
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| Paint bomb, what a mess |
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| Must be after hours |
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| Looting is hell |
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| It worked! |
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| Done and Done |
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| Solitude |
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