071210/one more for oscar grant

There are a lot of things to be said about the shooting at Fruitvale Bart Station over a year ago and the verdict of the Johannes Mehserle trial. In fact, a lot of things have already been said, if you pay attention.

But let me just say this. That single moment, when Mehserle pulled that trigger, not only meant the destruction of two separate lives and two separate families. Yes, it's true that we will never be able to bring Oscar back and Johannes Mehserle's life will also be changed dramatically, but that is only the surface.

This whole ordeal, from the actual shooting, leading up to the verdict, to the protests, and continuing on to the actual sentencing gives us a glimpse of the bitter and bare-faced reality of the American justice system. "Involuntary Manslaugher" means that the problem is only being further perpetuated.

Oscar Grant is no different from Sean Bell, Amadou Diallo, or Aiyana Stanley Jones. In our society, the sad truth is that it is perfectly acceptable for law enforcement to shoot innocent black people and get away with it. And when the community rises up in anger, it is perfectly acceptable for that same law enforcement to go in and suppress these people, target them with their batons and tear gas, then claim that these people were a threat to society.

And after all that is said and done, the victims are the ones left to blame and the true villains are regarded as heroes. And that, folks, is the sad truth.

071110/heaviness

This is a few days late. Regardless, it's still relevant. Here's to Oscar Grant.


Footage of the actual murder.

Oscar Grant Verdict: Involuntary Manslaughter
Article of the verdict.


Oakland after the verdict.

"Handcuffs" by Native Guns
A song in response to the trial.

Demand Justice For Oscar Grant
A petition to address police injustice.