Are Negroes in Oakland Overeacting Or Does A Post-Obama America Still Have Issues With Black Men???

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.

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.

Looks like it time the Afrosphere got to work to find out what's really going on here!

Source

Mychal Bell Of Jena 6 Fame Shoots Himself!!!

Mychel Bell was one of six black teenagers who faced adult felony charges in the 2006beating of a white classmate in the town of Jena. The beating followed months of racial tensions in the community of 3,000 after three white students hung a noose in a tree whose shade was traditionally off limits to blacks at Jena High School.

Now comes word that the troubled young man "accidently" got shot.

The case of the "Jena 6" drew national attention from civil rights groups who argued that the charges were excessive. An estimated 15,000-plus people turned out for a September 2007 rally in the Louisiana town on the black youths' behalf.

Bell eventually pleaded guilty to battery in a juvenile court, served several months in a youth home and later moved to Monroe, about 70 miles north of Jena.

On Tuesday Bell was in the hospital after a shooting that his lawyer said was accidental.

CNN is reporting that Mychal Bell was cleaning a gun when it accidentally discharged, shooting him in the shoulder, his attorney, Carol Powell-Lexing, told CNN. He had surgery Monday night at a hospital in Monroe, Louisiana, and has not yet been able to talk, she said.

Monroe police Sgt. Cassandra Wooten said the wound was not life-threatening.

This story comes courtesy of CNN.

Shots Fired, One Black Man Injured At Ghetto "Hip-Hop Fashion Show" In The ATL!

In A Word, Triffling!

“The shooting happened during a ‘Hot on the Runway’ fashion show, sponsored by popular Hip-Hop station Hot 107.9. Celebrities like Mario, Ashanti, Young Berg, Ray J, Lil Scrappy, Diamond had performed or were present during the evening, in what was described as a successful event, until the shots rang out, long after the fashion show had ended..."

"According to police, a 22-year-old man was sitting on a couch near the club’s bar in the terrace area, when an unknown assailant shot him twice in the abdomen. Police also said that witnesses were not being cooperative. At present time there are no suspects.”

Black events being plagued with violence is really getting old. Go speed to the victim and we will not be attending any marchers for the thug shooter. There are a lot of brothers on lockdown who actually need to be there! Source

The Death of Sean Taylor, From A Black Man Who Needs To Keep It Real

My Perspective Is What Everyone's Thinking But Just Won't Say

By Jayar Jackson

Even at his funeral, the NFL and the Washington Redskins team are still grappling with the tragic reality that Sean Taylor is dead.

The 4 year star of the league lost the battle for his life after intruders allegedly broke into the house as he and his Latina girlfriend slept around 1:45am. This story takes an interesting turn as everyone learned that Taylor’s house was broken into just over 1 week earlier in which the intruder(s) left a kitchen knife on a bed. With this in mind, Taylor grabbed a machete that he kept under his bed for protection when he was awakened Monday by loud noises.

Now its time to keep it real.

With the haunting images of a knife probably purposefully left on a bed along with the victim looking to defend himself with a machete, there will be speculation that he made some enemies in the past and was targeted for this brutal murder.

Some unconfirmed reports even say that when Taylor’s girlfriend tried to call 911, she discovered that the phone lines were cut, forcing her to use her cell phone to place the call. His 2005 arrest for aggravated assault involving firearms in a dispute over a possible theft of Taylor’s ATVs automatically label him a bad guy to some.

The violent shooting death of Denver Broncos defensive back Darrent Williams on New Year’s morning of this year is one of the first things that come to mind when this case is discussed. Williams was senselessly shot in the neck and killed outside of a Denver nightclub from a drive-by shooter’s gun. Although never involved in any criminal activity, this young player also lost his life while simply celebrating the holiday that everyone else enjoyed that night.

Known for his extremely aggressive tactics on the field, his brashness towards the media, and possession of a machete under his bed, many could believe that Taylor’s perceived character brought the wrong kinds of people to his bedroom door Monday night. Let’s be honest, when professional athletes go out or are seen in public, they are treated like kings; adored by fans but envied by lowlifes that never made anything out of their existence. They are walking dollar signs that could equal an easy and profitable hit for thieves, murderers, or the all too common jealous individual. Many in the hip-hop community refer to them as haters.

Many are big, and physically fit men that don’t feel they have to worry about being muscled or intimidated by the average Joe Schmo off the street. Sadly, with this guard being let down, athletes such as Antoine Walker and Eddy Curry were robbed at gunpoint earlier this year, with Walker facing the barrel of a gun for the second time in his own house. Walker was also robbed outside of a restaurant in 2000.

With this apparent targeting of rich, well-known athletes, what are young, oversized, well-paid men to do? Hire security, don’t leave the house, or try to protect themselves and their family the way any other man would do in America? The constant public relations worry of being seen with a weapon or having an entourage with weapons may discourage many from going that route, in fear of being ousted by the league and by fans. They are easily labeled a ‘bad role model’ or a ‘gang banger’ when these types of stories come out. While there really are bad role models and professional athletes that can’t leave bad company alone, we can’t forget that there are many more that are targeted for simply being who they are. While the football world remembers Sean Taylor and mourns his passing, let’s not forget this bizarre and absolutely threatening scene that played itself out twice in his house and even his bedroom as he slept with his girlfriend of 7 years and daughter of only 18 months. Hold your judgment and place yourself in the shoes of a talented athlete that only just began to stand out on a huge stage requiring patience, dedication, and courage in the face of threats that most 24 year-old men couldn’t begin to handle.