Feature Archives

October 22nd, 2007 was the 12th National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality, Repression, and the Criminalization of a Generation. In Oakland, protesters converged at 1:30pm in Frank Ogawa Plaza, outside of Oakland City Hall, at 14th Street and Broadway. A march began at 2:00pm, with a rally at 3:30pm back at Frank Ogawa Plaza. A Community Feeder March demanded justice for Gary King Jr. and "No More Stolen Lives!" Gary King was killed by an Oakland Police officer on September 20th.

On October 15th, 300+ police - in many cases armed - raided houses throughout New Zealand making 17 arrests. The arrestees are all activists in the Tino Rangatiratanga (Maori self-determination), peace, and environmental movements. They have initially been multiply charged with various offenses under the Arms Act, relating to alleged past possession of various firearms and ammunition; however, police are considering charges under the 2002 Suppression of Terrorism Act.

On Monday, Oct. 22nd, Sonoma County residents will wear black and march through Santa Rosa neighborhoods to protest 9 local killings by local law enforcement. The march begins at 4:00pm in Southwest Community Park, with a 5pm feeder march from Sebastopol Rd. and West Ave, and followed by a 6pm rally in Old Courthouse Square. There will be an open microphone at the rally. Speakers will likely include surviving loved ones of people who died at the hands of law enforcement, and people who have suffered from past and present police abuses.

Robert Norse writes, "Vice-Mayor Ryan Coonerty's latest attack on the Constitution is a new local law. It will expand a bad law passed last year to ban lingering in a city parking garage. Coonerty's expansion will ban all those not parking a car or auto from all downtown city parking garages and now all downtown city parking lots. It will be coming to City Council for a first reading in the evening of October 9th. No more Food Not Bombs or Drum Circles on Wednesday. Cars, yes. Human interaction, no."

On May 17th, the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia heard oral arguments in the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal. A decision is expected sometime very soon. Organizers have called for protests to take place if the Court rules to uphold the death sentence or denies Mumia’s appeals for either a new trial or new hearing the day after a decision - or on Monday if the decision falls on Friday or Saturday.

North Oakland residents and the family of Gary King, Jr. continue to show their outrage over the fact that the police officer who shot Gary is still on the force. On Wednesday, October 3rd, they gathered for a protest at the Oakland Police Department, 455 7th Street (between Broadway & Washington) at 3pm. On Thursdays, demonstrations are held at 3:00pm on the steps of Oakland City Hall. A Benefit Cafe Night will be held on Sunday, October 21st at the Long Haul in Berkeley- all proceeds will go to Gary's family.

On September 27th, the jury in the case of United States vs. Eric McDavid returned a verdict of "guilty." Eric faces five to twenty years in federal prison. His fellow defendants had accepted plea deals from the government and testified in the case. McDavid's lawyer argued that he was a victim of entrapment by "Anna" because of the money and help that she had provided. The sentencing is scheduled for Thursday, December 6th. Sacramento Prisoner Support is asking that people continue to call the jail and request that Eric be given vegan food.