Politics
by MELANIE MASON Nov. 15–“Are you happy not to have to cross the bridge for justice today?” That was the question posed by Richard Wright, an Oakland-based blogger and activist, to an estimated 500 Oakland residents this morning, as they gathered in downtown’s Frank H. Ogawa Plaza to protest Proposition 8, the ballot measure to amend the state constitution to prohibit gay marriage, which passed by a 52-48 margin.
by ANNA BLOOM Nov. 14– Alongside whooping football fans glued to flat-screen TVs, and above the excited murmur of someone’s birthday party table, young Democrats crowded into Arsimona’s bar in downtown Oakland last night for a festive gathering of their own. One week and two days since voters named Barack Obama U.S. President-elect and Rebecca Kaplan Oakland city-councilwoman-elect, they had reason to ring up their bills with good cheer. Among the crowd were spokespersons from the city attorney’s office, a…
by SAMSON REINY Nov. 14–In a packed auditorium at Montera Middle School last night, Oakland Police Cpt. Anthony Toribio commended both the Montclair neighborhood and Oakland officers for capturing two suspects believed to have been involved in a number of forced-entry burglaries in the Oakland Hills throughout September and October. Charles Langley and Kevin Simmons are charged with multiple felonies, and as more forensic evidence becomes available, more charges will likely be added. On Oct. 28, officers apprehended the duo…
by LINNEA EDMEIER Nov. 13–Shouting through megaphones and chanting “No more cuts,” protestors crowded the entrance of the state building in downtown Oakland today. Brandishing multi-colored posters and hand-held signs in Korean, Mandarin, Spanish and English, the protesters stood, or leaned on walkers or sat in wheelchairs to deliver their message to the office of State Senator Don Perata: more cuts to human services are not the answer to the state’s budget woes. “These are not extras we are asking…
Let eight artists loose on a very tight deadline (eight minutes!) for a very good cause–and OK, there’s some mess to clean up afterward. Click here for the story.
By OAKLAND NORTH STAFF Nov. 4 –Oakland North’s special multimedia project captures the faces and voices of emotional voters on election day 2008. Click here to hear North Oaklanders talk about what this vote meant to them.
by HENRY JONES Nov. 12–The white crosses of Lafayette have been assaulting the consciousnesses of commuters along westbound Highway 24 for some years now. What started in 2003 with just 19 crosses protesting the Iraq war has grown into a controversial project bigger than anybody—supporters and detractors—would have liked. This evening, as the creators of the memorial led a Veterans Day vigil at the base of the hill, a billboard-sized sign above them displayed the latest tally of American soldiers…
As the drama neared its crescendo on Nov. 4, Mary Green-King faced one big challenge before 8:00 PM: Would her aged, ailing aunt be able to cast her vote? Click here for the story.
Around local houses of worship, some ministers spent the first days after the election grappling with the spiritual message to be taken from Barack Obama’s victory. Click here for the story.