April 29, 1992- 2003 Oakland

"April 29, 1992, there was a riot on the streets tell we where were you? You were sitting home watching your TV, while I was participating in some anarchy....." Sublime

To clarify: The special Public Safety Committee meeting will be held on
Tuesday, April 29th, 2003 from 3pm to 6pm in City Hall.

Thank you for your email regarding the Monday April 7, 2003
demonstration.

At Tuesday's City Council meeting, dozens of speakers addressed the
City
Council about the demonstration that took place at the Port of Oakland
on
Monday morning. There were eyewitnesses who were participating in
protests,
legal observers who were monitoring, and longshoremen who were caught
up on
the way to work, among others. Nearly all testified to their own, and
the
group's, nonviolent conduct and to what they felt was unnecessary force
on
behalf of the police. Some speakers were able to show injuries they
sustained that morning, and others provided testimony of injuries or
supplied photographs.

Councilmembers Jean Quan, Desley Brooks, Vice Mayor Nadel and I have
called
for a hearing on what happened Monday morning. The Rules Committee
yesterday
decided to have this hearing at an expanded Public Safety Committee
meeting
on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.

We will invite representatives from the Oakland Police Department and
from
those who demonstrated to give testimony.

The City of Oakland has consistently expressed its support for all of
our
rights to free speech, free assembly and nonviolent demonstration.
Just
last Saturday, downtown Oakland was alive with thousands of protestors,
including myself, who had gathered against the war. At this
demonstration
the police worked with the protesters and their response was excellent.
There are many on the City Council who come out of the anti-war, labor
and
other social movements of the last 30 years. We know the importance of
protest and the value of free speech. We want Oakland to be a model
city.

The City of Oakland has a committed and hard-working police department.
I,
and many of my constituents, appreciate the work of the police and rely
on
them to tackle those problems. I met with the police yesterday and
hope
that they will come to the hearing to present their perspective of the
Monday incident.

At the hearing we will take testimony, but at a future date I believe
the
City Council needs to review police policies and give direction to the
police department on how we want our police force to respond to
demonstrations.

The hearing will be held on Tuesday, April 29th at 3:00 p.m. in the
City
Council Chambers of Oakland City Hall. Please contact my office at
238-7001, or by email, with any questions.

Sincerely,


Jane Brunner
Councilmember, District 1