The Streets of Oakland
By Kara Andrade
The helicopters still cut the sky with big swaths as they fly above the downtown Oakland skyline. The whole city and all in it have been uneasy all day. You didn’t even need to notice that everywhere you turned there were police cars and police standing in front of businesses or that people moved quickly to BART. The words “L.A. riots” could be heard when you rolled down your window and passed by the bus stops.
Photo Credit: Erik Sundelof
The shooting of Oscar Grant, an unarmed African-American man, on New Year’s Day by BART Police has changed the city and broken the fragile thread of trust between Oakland residents, the city of Oakland and the police. The killing led initially to a peaceful protest and then turned to fires and vandalism on the streets well into 10 PM last night. The Contra Costa Times did a great job of telling it in photos and locals blogs posted their reactionary commentaries – blaming the Berkeley anarchists.
Photo Credit: Erik Sundelof
The shooting, however, is a syndrome of a larger condition. Oakland is facing, both within the Oakland Police Department and BART police (two entirely different entities, but that’s not to say that what happens on BART with Oakland city limits, does not concern the city of Oakland), a general lack of training, resources, and morale. There are so many layers to this story that has only just begun. I’m glad that one of the Spot.Us stories, “Oakland Police Blues,” has already been funded and other such stories will, hopefully, be pitched after this shooting.
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