Oakland residents lead the fight to rename and reclaim public spaces

At Oakland’s inner harbor near the water’s edge stands the bronze statue of Jack London—a famed 20th Century author, labor union advocate and racist who promoted eugenics and white supremacy. Communities of color make up 75% of the population in Oakland. This summer, Oakland residents petitioned to remove a monument dedicated to London and to…

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Community protests police shooting and gang injunction

Community activist groups held marches Thursday to protest Monday’s fatal police shooting of East Oakland barber Derrick Jones and the recent gang injunction by the Oakland Police Department. Derrick Jones, 37, was shot to death Monday by two police officers near the Kwik Cut Barber Shop on Bancroft Avenue, which he owned. Later in the…

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Evening Mehserle protests turn ugly

Protestors at night

Updated 8:54 p.m.: Police have begun arresting protesters who have been wandering raucously around Oakland in response to the announcement of the Johannes Mehserle sentencing. Oakland Police spokesperson Jeff Thomason estimated that more than 100 protesters have been arrested.

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Boarding up but still quiet, Oakland downtown awaits Mehserle news

As Oakland awaits news from the Los Angeles sentencing of former BART police officer Johannes Mehserle, downtown businesses are preparing today for the possibility of violence. Storefronts around Frank Ogawa Plaza are boarded up including the Oakland police Internal Affairs office, the offices of Youth Radio and the Men’s Wearhouse and Foot Locker stores nearby.

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