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APTP statement on August 12th murder by Oakland police

by Anti Police-Terror Project
Yesterday, another Black life was stolen by the hands of law enforcement.
800_opd-murder-memorial-081215-daveid.jpg
[Photo by Dave Id]



Within 30 minutes of the murder, APTP 1st Responders were on the scene.

While we are still following leads and talking to witnesses - a picture is emerging that counters the police narrative.

There are conflicting reports about whether or not the brother had a gun, but ACROSS the board - EVERYONE we spoke with said the brother was running AWAY from the cops and that he was shot in the BACK. And that he NEVER fired at police and there was no "confrontation" as OPD Spin Master Johanna Watson stated at the press conference.

An eye witness even said the brother was in the process of surrendering, slowing his run down, and saying "OK, OK, OK."

At that point, witnesses say he either fell or was pushed to the ground by the force of the first shot in his back and it was on the ground where he was the recipient of the remaining shots fired by OPD.

Given the rate Black people are murdered by police - it is a logical, rational decision to run AWAY from them. Some might even argue a form of self preservation.

We know that across the country - when white folks have firearms and even when they fire AT police - more often than not they are presumed mentally unstable, talked down and taken into custody ALIVE. Even the demon who walked into a Black house of worship and murdered nine people was taken in ALIVE. They even fed him Burger King on the way to jail!

But uniformly - Black people are shot first and interrogated/investigated later. This discrepancy in practice is the physical manifestation of the partial and impartial bias against Black life. It is the direct result of the devaluing of Black life by a system of white supremacy that places white life, practice and culture, and the preservation of such, above all else. It is the direct result of the daily demonization of Black men, women and children as thugs, whores, welfare queens, drug addicts and violent animals by every form of mainstream media and popular culture.

Even if he did have a gun, if he was running away and trying to surrender - with alllllll of the training WE are paying for OPD to have - was there NO other option than for them to shoot him multiple times in the back?

OPD of course will say that they were afraid for THEIR lives and we know that statement means they have the license to do whatever they choose to do to eliminate that threat - warranted or not. And society and the media will demonize this brother way beyond any of his real or imagined crimes as a way to try to convince us the only option was for this brother to die.

We summarily reject that notion and demand an immediate end to the unjust, unwarranted and rampant epidemic of the murders of Black men, women and children by law enforcement, security guards and vigilantes.

We demand that OPD and law enforcement agencies across the country employ every available tactic and strategy available to NOT kill our community members even if they have or are suspected of committing a crime.

And we demand real accountability for killer cops - not paid vacation as a celebratory prize for murder.

A Black led vigil for Black LIFE will be held on Friday at 6:00 pm at the corner of 27th and MLK.

Black Lives Matter
Black Resistance Matters
Black Power Matters
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Thu, Aug 13, 2015 4:59PM
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