On Thursday, April 22nd, around a hundred community members rallied outside a courthouse in Oakland to oppose a controversial gang injunction proposed by City Attorney John Russo. The proposed injunction, filed in February, targets the so-called "North Side Oakland" gang. It would criminalize everyday activities, including "driving, standing, sitting, walking, gathering, or appearing" in public with suspected gang members, in a 100 square block area of North Oakland. Violators could face up to six months in jail and $1,000 in fines.

Opponents spoke out against the proposal, saying that it does not address the root causes of violence, relies on racial profiling, strips people of their constitutional rights, concentrates too much power in the hands of police, and threatens to push poor and working class people of color out of North Oakland. Protesters also pointed out that the injunction would cost the city almost half a million dollars, money that could be used on education, youth programs, and other measures that would address the root causes of violence.

After the rally, some protesters went inside the courthouse to observe a hearing on the gang injunction before Judge Robert Freedman. Due to objections raised by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Northern California about procedural errors, the hearing was postponed until May 27th. Community members who organized the rally welcome the postponement as an opportunity to continue building momentum to stop the injunction.

Reports and Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | Stop the Injunction website