Another Black Male Doesn't Live To See Barack Make History
Oscar Grant, 22, was killed New Years Day at a crowded train station in a shooting at a subway in California's Bay Area. And the protests erupted immediately after the young brother was laid to rest in Oakland on Wednesday night. This is deja vu folks, and it's getting really old.
The Oakland Police Department made 105 arrests, including a mass arrest of about 80 people for CNN is reporting are charges ranging from rioting, vandalism to assaults on a police officers and unlawful assembly.
Some protesters lay on their stomachs, saying they were showing solidarity with Grant, who was shot in the back as he was face-down on the floor at a train station. Watch angry protesters in Oakland »
It didn't help that Officer Johannes Mehserle, who is implicated in the shooting, had turned in his resignation and has refused to talk with investigators.
The Oakland Police Department made 105 arrests, including a mass arrest of about 80 people for CNN is reporting are charges ranging from rioting, vandalism to assaults on a police officers and unlawful assembly.
Some protesters lay on their stomachs, saying they were showing solidarity with Grant, who was shot in the back as he was face-down on the floor at a train station. Watch angry protesters in Oakland »
It didn't help that Officer Johannes Mehserle, who is implicated in the shooting, had turned in his resignation and has refused to talk with investigators.
Attorney Christopher Miller released a statement confirming his client's resignation, effective Wednesday. "Officer Mehserle's resignation should allow BART to get back to the business of managing regional transportation and allow the Alameda County district attorney to take primary responsibility for reviewing this matter," the statement said.
Oakland police tried to keep protesters at bay Wednesday night as they smashed car windshields and storefront windows. KTVU footage shows one protester jumping up and down on a police car hood, while another demonstrator pushes a flaming Dumpster up against it.
"We live a life of fear, and we want them to be afraid tonight," an unnamed female protester said. iReport.com: BART protests turn violent
While protests began peacefully with about 500 people gathering at the Fruitvale station where the shooting occurred, soon, a group of about 150 protesters surrounded a police officer. That's when, "the decision was made to use chemical agents to protect that police officer."
The crowd finally dispersed about 11 p.m. after police hemmed in a crowd of rowdy protesters at the downtown intersection of 20th Street and Broadway. There, police cuffed 80 protesters, Thomason said.
David Chai, chief of staff for Oakland African American Mayor Ron Dellums, said Dellums was "out and about" in the streets Wednesday, urging protesters to exercise their frustration productively. Dellums also announced that the Oakland Police Department was conducting its own investigation into the matter.
He said Oakland residents also were "rightfully" frustrated that the investigation has gone on for a week with little development.
The Grant family attorney, John Burris, is pushing Orloff to press criminal charges against Mehserle. Burris has also filed a $25 million claim with BART, alleging wrongful death.
"Without so much as flinching the Officer Mehserle stood over Grant and mercilessly fired his weapon, mortally wounding Mr. Grant with a single gunshot wound to the back," the claim alleges.
BART has until late February to respond.
Burris said that the young men had been celebrating the new year at a popular waterfront tourist spot, The Embarcadero. They were heading home when police pulled them from the train car about 2 a.m.
Witness videos show Grant and two other men sitting against a wall in the Fruitvale station after being pulled off the train. BART reported that they had received a report of an altercation on the train.
Police are seen putting Grant face-down on the ground. Grant appears to struggle. One of the officers kneels on Grant as another officer stands, tugs at his gun, unholsters it and fires a shot into Grant's back.
There have been unconfirmed reports that Mehserle may have mistook his gun for a Taser, but Burris is not swayed. "My view is, this is criminal conduct, period," he said.
Oakland police tried to keep protesters at bay Wednesday night as they smashed car windshields and storefront windows. KTVU footage shows one protester jumping up and down on a police car hood, while another demonstrator pushes a flaming Dumpster up against it."We live a life of fear, and we want them to be afraid tonight," an unnamed female protester said. iReport.com: BART protests turn violent
While protests began peacefully with about 500 people gathering at the Fruitvale station where the shooting occurred, soon, a group of about 150 protesters surrounded a police officer. That's when, "the decision was made to use chemical agents to protect that police officer."
The crowd finally dispersed about 11 p.m. after police hemmed in a crowd of rowdy protesters at the downtown intersection of 20th Street and Broadway. There, police cuffed 80 protesters, Thomason said.
David Chai, chief of staff for Oakland African American Mayor Ron Dellums, said Dellums was "out and about" in the streets Wednesday, urging protesters to exercise their frustration productively. Dellums also announced that the Oakland Police Department was conducting its own investigation into the matter.
He said Oakland residents also were "rightfully" frustrated that the investigation has gone on for a week with little development.
The Grant family attorney, John Burris, is pushing Orloff to press criminal charges against Mehserle. Burris has also filed a $25 million claim with BART, alleging wrongful death.
"Without so much as flinching the Officer Mehserle stood over Grant and mercilessly fired his weapon, mortally wounding Mr. Grant with a single gunshot wound to the back," the claim alleges.
BART has until late February to respond.
Burris said that the young men had been celebrating the new year at a popular waterfront tourist spot, The Embarcadero. They were heading home when police pulled them from the train car about 2 a.m.
Witness videos show Grant and two other men sitting against a wall in the Fruitvale station after being pulled off the train. BART reported that they had received a report of an altercation on the train.
Police are seen putting Grant face-down on the ground. Grant appears to struggle. One of the officers kneels on Grant as another officer stands, tugs at his gun, unholsters it and fires a shot into Grant's back.
There have been unconfirmed reports that Mehserle may have mistook his gun for a Taser, but Burris is not swayed. "My view is, this is criminal conduct, period," he said.