if by "put himself in that situation" you mean "existed as a black man in a racist society that assumes all black men apprehended by police must automatically be guilty of a crime" then yes, I suppose you could make that argument.

Please have some respect for the dead and stop demonizing someone who isn't alive to defend himself.

"Put himself in that situation"?! It was New Years eve. They decided to not drive and take the bart instead. Sounds pretty responsible to me. Let's talk about the irresponsibility of the bart officer. Doesn't know that his taser is on the left side? It's bright yellow? His gun is on the right side and weighs approximently 5 times more than the taser? He has to unsnap the holder to his gun to pull it our? Oscar Grant was already complying, face down with a knee on his back and one on his neck? To shoot him in the back? I have heard stuff like, 'well you know, officers have a hard time with 'those' people'. What the hell?! The same people who say that, argue that we should go into Iran to protect women who are being stoned to death. In this particular case of Mehserle KILLING Oscar Grant, Mehserle should get the 14 years time. (Oscar Grant was reported to have said, "don't shoot me, I have a daughter.")

the old status quo remains the norm
NOW Be the Time for the Perfect Storm
American Activism has been a hamster on a wheel
just yacking and clucking ...NO Action to heal
Oscar was murdered and Jamal's still in prison
ONLY thru the GENERAL STRIKE Be the People Arisen

SEEE...the Burning V........for Vendetta.....on...myspace.com/peterpeace1

There will be no march to or gathering in DeFremery park this evening

Why?

And why is it being called Defermery Park, when the Black community has been calling it Bobby Hutton Park since at least 1970?

via Thandisizwe Chimurenga:

#OGTrial. Two years in jail w/ credit of 292 days credit; new trial on gun enhancement and one other area

People are talking about the march to the park being cancelled. Regardless- the most important thing in my opinion is for people to STICK TOGETHER, no? 14th and Broadway is where folks should go for now. Either way, people should text, call and facebook their friends, and help SPREAD THE WORD AROUND OAKLAND, so we are organized. It would be great if INDYBAY could post updates, so we know it isn't other people trying to create division or spread false or mistaken information. ALso, please, with all due respect and solidarity, let's not create divisions about what the Park is called, we can talk about that tomorrow, cause TODAY, IS ABOUT JUSTICE FOR OSCAR GRANT and other victims of Police Brutality. peace out. RIP OSCAR. let's take care of each other there.....

get out, and invite others, spread the word everyone....

this is what INDYBAY website article says on gathering (meet at frank ogawa basically), this was just posted:

Concerned community members will gather together in Frank Ogawa Plaza by Oakland City Hall to respond to the sentencing and to honor Oscar. The schedule includes live art from 2-4pm and speakers from 4-6pm. A previously planned march from Frank Ogawa to Li'l Bobby Hutton (DeFremery) Park in West Oakland, after the 6pm conclusion of the gathering downtown, has been canceled by organizers.

see for yourself, it is on indybay.org homepage. peace.

justice will be done, one way or another.