May 18 Oakland Oscar Grant protest

Small turn-out for important social justice issue.

Sadly there were maybe fifty marchers at most, and a similar police turn out. The cops have become really good at squaring off the neighborhood should any real trouble arrive. It is exactly like a police state actually. The District Attorney is trying to lessen the charges to "Police Misconduct", which is ludicrous. It's a murder trial already, serve your minimal sentence in prison because you are a cop, and leave the rest of us alone. The local Black Muslims were on hand at the Court House to console the Grant family, neither of which joined the march, which is normal, why should they. The family has been through enough, and word is it that the largely Communist protest on the 18th doesn't really get along with the Black Muslims anyway, as not others as well regarding the Muslims. From May 18th until May 22nd, people are encouraged to gather from 8am to around noon or so at 1225 Fallon, in Oakland, which is the location of the Alameda County Superior Court. The flier provided an email at wecangetitdone [at] gmail.com, although I have no idea who they are, or who they affiliated with. In related news the Police Union paid the $3 million some time ago so Mehsehrle is out and about, although probably not allowed to leave California, I don't know all of the details, I could care less. The fact that he tried to worm out of the entire $3 million bail is in itself is a pretty gratuitous abuse of the legal system. Don't ask me, that's why the legal system is there, supposedly people are charged with murder who may not have committed the act, unlike this trial. What do you want me to say really? Should I expect he should plead temporary insanity due to the intensity of the situation? No way, any intensity would be the result of his own - whatever his problem is.

Darina,

It is true that the crowd is smaller than before, but it does not mean that there are not alot of people in Oakland, and around the world who want to see justice for Oscar Grant and that Johannes Mehserle be put behind bars. I am sure that if a major miscarriage of justice occurs (like Mehserle not being tried for murder, etc.) then a massive outpouring of protest, and even unrest, from the community would occur. There are alot of people who care about this, just because they were not at that protest and in the picture, means that they do not stand in solidarity. I was not at this particular protest( I am out of town right now), but that does not mean that I am not in solidarity with the people marching, or that I have not participated before in marching for justice for Oscar Grant. Sometimes to point out that the crowd is small and there was a low turnout for support, and being too overcritical can hurt a movement. It is not always the best decision to point out weakness. Also, I don't think that it is appropriate to point out that the Nation of Islam does not march with the rest of the crowd, and that this because the march has been organized by communists and that there is tension between the communists and the muslims. Is that true? Are there serious tensions here? You said that the "word is" that the muslims and communist are at odds, this sounds like a rumor to me and it usually is good rule of thumb to not come to a decison and pass judgement on something, becasue of the rumors that are floating around. A major tatic and modus of operandi that the FBI and other govt. agencies used to destroy groups like the Panthers, were rumors to create divisons amongst a movement. Also, I don't think that everyone marching is a communist. Has this march been organized by communists? Is We Can Get It Done a communsit group? You said yourself that: ' I have no idea who they are'.
I was wondering as well, where you heard that the DA's office was going to only try Mehserle on a police misconduct charge? Is that for real? Is that official from the DA's office? That is a serious accusation and I hope that it is not true. If the DA decides to go forward and try Mehserle on something less than murder, it can very well set off a riot. That is a major injustice. He needs to stand trial for murder (period)
Despite my criticisms of you and your posting Darina, I do agree with you that there needs to be better turn out at marches rallies and other Justice 4 Oscar Grant events. I don't think it is a good idea though to point it out and exploit the fact that there is low turn out. That just sets forth the idea that the community is divided and there is no support to demand justice for Oscar Grant. That plays right into the hands to those who do want to see a miscarriage of justice come out of this( the police, the state, the right, racists, etc.). Don't give them the ammunition!

I wasn't at the march but i helped to organize it and have been at almost every other march, rally & meeting. I've also gone to some of the folks' court hearings who have been charged w/ felonies while protesting for justice for Oscar.

This is a long protracted struggle; justice for Oscar is only one battle in the struggle against police brutality which is only one part of the overall war for liberation, which is going to take our lifetimes and that of our children and grandchildren. So hang in there. Don't become discouraged. Continue to reach out to folks to join the battle.

Muslims v. communists or vice versa isn't our problem, that's one that the powers that be would like to for us to bicker about and fight against each other and not against them (the establishment). Let's find a way to work together against this evil system that's keeping us all down and holding us all back.

To Justice4Oscar -- the name looked like Darin, not Darina