Born and raised in San Francisco, Tony Coleman led a successful campaign to get a killer cop fired from the SFPD for the murder of Aaron Williams. Tony cofounded the Third Eye Movement and was instrumental in the local fight against Prop 21.

After being gentrified out of San Francisco, Tony made his mark in West Oakland supporting arts and community. Tony fought against gang injunctions and was a key organizer in the Justice for Oscar Grant Movement. Tony built up unused storefronts by the BART tracks on 7th Street and founded One Fam, Bikes 4 Life, and the 7th Street Rev Cafe.

Tony passed away on September 23 after a battle with cancer. He leaves behind his son Tony Jr and a long list of friends and comrades.

Read more about Tony and view photos below. Hear him in his own words in video and audio in this collection of posts on Indybay:

Celebrating the Life of Tony Coleman | Bikes 4 Life marks 10 years in West Oakland | People's Assembly on Keeping Art in Oakland | Black Coalition Sends Open Letter to Mayor Schaaf Demanding Answers on OPD Actions | March and Rally in Solidarity with Renisha McBride | West Oakland's Bikes-4-Life shares the wheels and remembers Baby Hiram | Oscar Grant's Family & Oakland Community Denounce Mehserle's Bid to Become Cop Again, 5/11/12: video & photos | Town Hall Press Conference Responds to Mehserle Verdict, Thanks Supporters, 7/10/10: audio | Town Hall for Justice Responds to Mehserle's Involuntary Manslaughter Verdict, 7/10/10: audio | Why the Spin Regarding "Outsiders" Protesting the Mehserle is Bullshit (and Illogical) | Town Hall on Justice for Oscar Grant and Community Gathering at 14th & Broadway, 7/3/10: audio | "Don't Over-react!" Organizers Demand Police Grant Right to Assemble After Mesherle Verdict | Press Conference Regarding Day of Verdict Gathering at 14th & Broadway, 7/1/10: video | Oakland Organizers Defend Right To Assemble After Mehserle Verdict | Community Speaks Out Against BART Efforts Reduce the Value of Oscar Grant's Friends' Lives, 2/10/10: audio | Gone But Not Forgotten - Justice for Oscar Grant! Community Gathering: audio & photos | Gone But Not Forgotten - Justice for Oscar Grant! Community Rally, Fruitvale BART: audio & photos | The People vs. Johannes Mehserle: Days 6 & 7 of the Preliminary Hearing | Town Hall Covers Mehserle Case and Recall of Orloff, Oakland, 3/21/09: photos and audio | All of Us or None and City of San Francisco Find Common Ground To End Discrimination | coalition (c.a.p.e.) takes over B.A.R.T. board mtg. feb. 12, 2009 (post by Tony)

See Also: Fallen Heroes 2022

Related Features: Call Goes Out to Save OneFam from West Oakland Gentrification Onslaught | Oakland Vigil Marks Five Years of Struggle for Justice for Oscar Grant | Family, Friends, and Community Activists Gather for 4th Annual Vigil for Oscar Grant