For decades, the law enforcement and justice systems have treated juvenile sex workers as criminals, not victims, arresting and locking them up. Now the Oakland Police Department, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office and an Oakland nonprofit that works with sexually exploited youth are exploring alternatives to incarceration. But what’s the best way to do it?
Politics
Nola Brantley, right, talks with some of her MISSSEY staff members at the Safe Place Alternative, or SPA, at the Alameda County Family Justice Center. The SPA is a drop-in transition and recovery center for sexually exploited children in Oakland.
As more Oakland youth join the sex trade, law enforcement explores alternatives to incarceration
March 13, 2010 – 10:02 am
Student perspective: On March 4 during the freeway takeover, some reporters got the story. Four of them got arrested.
March 12, 2010 – 9:32 am
On March 4, hundreds of protesters marched from Berkeley to Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland to rally with students and educators from across the region. After the rally, a group of some 150 protesters marched onto the I-880 freeway, shut down traffic and were arrested by police. Some reporters got the story — but four of them, including Oakland North correspondent Jake Schoneker, got arrested. Schoneker shares his account of the day, in pictures and words.
Tech girls, Castlemont boys bring home OAL hoops titles
March 7, 2010 – 9:00 pm
First it was chants of “O-T, O-T” that echoed throughout the Laney College gym Saturday. The happy players and coaches of Oakland Tech were celebrating their Oakland Athletic League girls basketball championship, a 72-42 win over Skyline High. A couple hours later, that scene was repeated. This time, it was chants of “Cas-tle, Cas-tle,” as the Castlemont High boys team celebrated its 67-65 win over Oakland High.
Three killed in 24 hours in West Oakland
March 6, 2010 – 10:47 am
Three Oakland residents were killed in West Oakland in two separate shootings that happened Thursday and Friday. According to the Trib, two of the detained suspects are from Oakland, too.
The Oakland PD apologized to a family for a late response to a failed kidnapping attempt.
First-time city council member Rebecca Kaplan is giving serious thought to [...]
Tech students who stayed in class get lesson in funding crisis
March 5, 2010 – 1:37 pm
While nearly 2,000 people were protesting cuts to higher and K-12 education on the Oakland streets, most Oakland Tech students were in class. Those that stayed – including one particular Spanish class – got a lesson about California’s funding crisis.
In Sacramento, Democrats support protesters
March 5, 2010 – 7:27 am
With more than a thousand students, faculty members and other education advocates rallying outside the state capitol, Democrats seized on the opportunity to voice their support for revenue-raising measures, including the proposed oil extraction tax.
Another look: Images from Oakland’s downtown rally
March 4, 2010 – 9:38 pm
A close up look at many of the memorable images from the March 4 protest that stretched from the UC Berkeley campus to Frank Ogawa Plaza in downtown Oakland.
Protesters arrested; removed from freeway
March 4, 2010 – 6:47 pm
Approximately 150 protesters who temporarily shut down the 980/880 freeway were arrested on an off-ramp this afternoon by Oakland police
Mission High students spearhead rally
March 4, 2010 – 6:33 pm
Three hundred students and teachers marched out of Mission High School early today, leading the charge to a rally at 24th and Mission Streets. They were joined by other schools along the way, ending in a 600-strong chanting throng. The group was later joined by other protestors and marched down Mission Street and on to Civic Center for a rally with students and public education supporters from across the city.
Mission students, teachers march for public education
March 4, 2010 – 6:30 pm
Students, parents and teachers flooded Mission Street this afternoon, protesting budget cuts to California’s public education system. The crowd of at least two thousand people stretched three blocks as it swept through the neighborhood on its way to Civic Center where protesters from across the city converged for a rally.
Black students walked out Monday in solidarity with UC San Diego
March 4, 2010 – 6:17 pm
Last Monday about two hundred African-American students, dressed in black, linked arms and stood in silence across Sather gate to protest recent racial incidents at UC San Diego.
Slideshow: Students, teachers assemble at Oakland’s Frank Ogawa Plaza
March 4, 2010 – 6:04 pm
Throughout the afternoon, hundreds of students and teachers from throughout Oakland and Berkeley assembled downtown in front of City Hall to protest education budget cuts.
In Sacramento, protesters lobby for lawmakers’ attention
March 4, 2010 – 4:06 pm
As California lawmakers debated budget fixes on the Senate floor, hundreds of students, teachers and parents from California school systems—K-12 through the University of California—gathered on the Capitol’s north steps to protest cuts to public education.
UC Berkeley students decide: Attend class or protest
March 4, 2010 – 2:01 pm
On March 4, protesters gathered at Sather Gate as students pondered whether to join the demonstration or go to class.
Video: Morning protests at UC Berkeley
March 4, 2010 – 1:41 pm
On the morning of March 4, protesters gathered at the main entrances to the UC Berkeley campus. This footage was shot from 7-10 am at the campus’ West Gate, Sather Gate and North Gate.
Oakland students and teachers turn out for March 4 pickets; “disaster drills”
March 4, 2010 – 12:04 pm
Throughout the Oakland Unified School district, students and teachers turned out for pickets and a “disaster drill” to support California public education.