Are these Kid Slayings Part of a Global Provocation Agenda??

[Disco_Destroyer]

Melbourne coppers kill 15 y boy
rix dorf | 12.12.2008 12:00
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/415177.html
Australian police kill Tyler Cassidy of Melbourne Thursday night. Several officers fired at him, hitting him in the chest. He died at the scene.






Police in the southern Australian city of Melbourne fatally shot a 15-year-old boy in a skate park after officers said he threatened them with knives.
The written statement released by Tyler Cassidy's family this afternoon

The entire family and friends of Tyler Cassidy are appalled at the actions by the Victoria Police last night. Their heavy-handedness, and lack of negotiating skills at the scene of the shooting, contributed to the untimely death of our beautiful 15 year old. He was in the prime of his life, had just started a new school, and was coping really well. He was a popular student with high expectations and a good network of friends.

The Northcote police were notified 30 minutes prior to the killing and briefed completely on what had happened including what he was wearing and to look out for Tyler.

The four officers concerned acted unacceptably by killing Tyler last night. He had a very gentle side, striving to grow from a boy into a young man and would have been completely overwhelmed by the situation.

The police according to our witnesses chased him, cornered him at the skate park in Northcote, he was surrounded and gunned down by four officers firing at least six or seven shots.

Our eyewitness confirmed that Tyler patted her dog, was confronted by the police and sprayed with capsicum foam, then pursued to the skate park, surrounded and hunted down.

We look forward to a serious and thorough investigation and inquest into why Tyler was killed and to the serious nature of the attending officers' actions.

It should have been dealt with differently and more compassionately, but tragically resulted in Tyler's death that should have been avoided.

"I promise you my darling, I will fight for you as you were taken from me under the most horrific circumstances.

"Why was he slayed to death when it was so unnecessary. Four officers were not capable of managing the situation.

"Now you have passed over I will speak for you and others like you," Shani, Tyler's mother

This is a released statement on behalf of his loving family and friends. He died alone without his family at his side, gasping his last breath, he was only a scared little boy... Rest in Peace.

12/12/2008


rix dorf

See Also Greece:- http://www.911forum.org.uk/board/viewtopic.php?t=16314
and disturbing lack of compassion in UK:- http://www.911forum.org.uk/board/viewtopic.php?t=16289

[Disco_Destroyer]

"Citizen videos" spread online showing BART police officer shooting unarmed man to death
Xeni Jardin | Boing Boing | January 6, 2009
(Warning, explicit content: the video below shows a man being shot to death).
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/01/06/citizen-videos-sprea.html


Link


In the early hours of New Year's Day, 27-year-old BART police officer Johannes Mehserle shot and killed 22-year old Oscar Grant. A number of people who were riding the BART train that night witnessed the shooting, and shot video or photos on handheld cameras or phones. The victim's family today filed a lawsuit for $25 million. Five days after the shooting, the accused officer still has not given a statement. He is said to be have received death threats and authorities are apparently moving him from place to place to protect him from harm. Some people are speculating the shooting may have been an accident -- the officer may have grabbed his gun by mistake because he thought he was instead grabbing a Taser device. I have operated both devices, though certainly not in those extreme stress conditions, and I find that argument hard to understand. The weapons are so different. Snip from SF Chron article, to that point:

[Use-of-force training and research firm founder Bruce Siddle] said changes in how the brain processes information in a stressful situation might have led the officer to mistake the butt of his service weapon for the Taser. But other experts found the idea that the shooting resulted from such a mix-up hard to believe.
"That's as reflexive as you getting in on the driver's side of the car (instead of) the passenger side if you want to drive it," [Florida criminologist George] Kirkham said. "There's no remote similarity to a conventional firearm. ... The Taser is just like apples and oranges."

The fact that so many videos and images are surfacing in this case is significant, because each set of images provides a different view of the killing, with different visual information. Snip from that same SF Chron article:
Roy Bedard, who has trained police officers around the world, advanced a different theory after his first viewing of the video: that the shooting was a pure accident, a trigger pulled because of a loss of balance or a loud noise.
But in an indication of how the videos might move the investigation, Bedard reached a different conclusion after viewing the shooting from a different angle.

"Looking at it, I hate to say this, it looks like an execution to me," he said. "It really looks bad for the officer. ... We have to get inside his head and figure out what he was thinking when he fired the shot."

I first heard about the story from Jake Appelbaum's blog: BART Police (in Oakland) murdered a man on NYE. Here is one video (nsa.org). Here is another released by a Bay Area CBS affiliate -- first, we see the entire, raw footage a 19 year old eyewitness shot on her camcorder, then we hear her explain what she saw and experienced -- she says a female BART police officer tried to forcibly confiscate her camcorder.

Link


Here is still another video (YouTube), and many YouTube users are annotating and re-uploading video to offer amateur opinions on what's going on, and who did what, why.

[Disco_Destroyer]

I thought Isreal could be the January crisis for Obama but I think this would be it and closer to home!!

Continued from above
Link


More race riots anyone

[fish5133]

[Disco_Destroyer]

Indeed cheers

found 1 guy with his youtube suspended also already.

Added
9:25Oakland Protest Oscar Grant COP CHARGED MURDER 2
599 views
Jwrita4
http://uk.youtube.com/user/Jwrita4
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=WCOBEz1xTcM

also there is a vid where the cops arrive from behind the protest with all sirens wailing if that isn't provokation I dunno what is??

[Disco_Destroyer]

Email message from Remo Conscious

Oscar Grant Murdered by BART Police


Photo by Remo Conscious


On January 1, 2009, a young black man was murdered by BART Police in Oakland, California. 22-year old Oscar Grant was lying face down while Officer Johannes Meherles drew his firearm, stood over Oscar and shot him in the back. The bullet ricochet and logged in his lung. Many BART passengers watched in horror as the event took place. A few brave individuals recorded the murder on their cell phones.

Watch The Video Here
Link

Very good video with good comentary Disco!!

Without this video Oscar Grant may have become another voiceless victim of Police brutality.

Officer Johannes Meherles has resigned from the BART Police force, but this is not enough. We demand that Johannes, and all of the officers involved be tried and convicted for this brutal crime.


Photo by Remo Conscious

Music dedication and Download
A few years ago I wrote a song titled "The Real Bogeyman" which is about the abuse and murder of people by the Police. I would like to dedicate this song to Oscar Grant.
Download it Here (right click to save to your computer)
http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001g0xmDz1WF9hJ48osHLtlNUvvOf_jowLeP23lqRuUoId 3o7DfLPyDhbfMV9cF3zASprb3u2Z20OGCj_-1eBQVol0P1st85vRFeBGMDln-NrXOgPtRr _nXnZVIvgCJikFDH31hzpLT_C9x_nDLyTgePYVxLENSuxSq9sRwcxffJIY=

My song is not the first, nor will it be the last to speak out against these atrocities.

What to do if you are stopped by the Police
It's very important to know your rights if you are stopped by the police. The ACLU offers some good advice that you can carry with you in the case that you are. Download it Here (right click to save to your computer) http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001g0xmDz1WF9j6w3iWGoBPc0uivS09kwb9pZHaVgZCQUW x6opcXYyleHvWBhG3yP8xiMZz1kmK0dEquv2dkv9TQEgcbb9nZxhl_ihVpahq0wcofpM8_ vvgtcOmiBNa6WjQQsz4aqVcZdWjqPeSAJSxaXIfAxu3RcR6 . By no means does this guarantee your safety, but the more knowledge you have the better.

The honest truth is, in my opinion, if Oscar Grant was white he would still be alive. Just because we have a black President, does not mean that racism is dead. Stay alert, ask questions, and demand answers. Justice for Oscar Grant!

[Disco_Destroyer]

Don't forget Sean Bell

Bell Supporters Demand Justice As Verdict Nears


Link

[Disco_Destroyer]

3 in 1 night

N. Orleans cops shoot man 12 times in the back

Andrew McLemore
Raw Story
Saturday, Jan 10, 2008

A young, black man in New Orleans is dead, slain by police officers on New Year’s Day, in an incident that has outraged a community and triggered protests over what family members are calling a “murder.”

The New Orleans man, 22-year-old Adolph Grimes III, traveled to his grandmother’s home near the French Quarter in order to celebrate New Year’s Eve with his fiance and their 17-month-old son. Three hours after arrival, around 3 a.m., he was found dead a block from the front door.

The Orleans Parish coroner said Grimes was shot 14 times, including 12 times in the back.

“This violence has to stop. My child’s death will not be meaningless. He did not die in vain,” said Grimes’ mother, Patricia Grimes.

An editorial in The Times-Picayune said the shooting “demands answers.”

Despite the fact that the seven officers involved in the incident have been reassigned, Superintendent Warren Riley has refused to answer “fundamental questions” about the shooting and maintains that Grimes fired upon his men first.

Several dozen people protested the New Orleans Police Department on Thursday morning to demand justice for Grimes’ death.

A mix of people walked paced in front of a police station carrying signs with slogans like “Down with the government” and shouting to passers-by “You could be next!”

A group of black ministers and advocates has called for the department to be purged of “trigger-happy” officers and the Grimes family’s attorney, Richard Jenkins is certain an investigation will show rogue cops and sloppy police work.

“I just think it was some bad officers who were out there and imposing their will on the community,” Jenkins said.

The shooting of Grimes by the NOPD marks the third high media incident of an officer or officers shooting a seemingly innocent black male thus far in 2009.

In Oakland, Calif, a BART officer shot a 22-year-old black male in the back on New Year’s Eve. The slaying was caught on multiple videos, all of which showed the man unarmed, subdued and helpless. The city is still struggling to contain the public’s reaction to what appears to be an execution.

Also, in Houston, a 23-year-old black male was shot in his own home’s driveway by a white police officer during the early hours of New Year’s Eve. According to published reports, the officer thought the man’s vehicle was stolen. An internal investigation is underway. While the department has denied allegations of racial profiling related to the shooting, no effort to explain why the officer suspected the vehicle to be stolen has been offered.
http://www.prisonplanet.com/n-orleans-cops-shoot-man-12-times-in-the-b ack.html
Relating to Adolf Grimes III
1. Ministers demand justice in killing of Adolph Grimes III ...
"Police officials say 22-year-old Adolph Grimes III prompted a 3 a.m. barrage of police gunfire by firing first at plain-clothed undercover officers in the ..."
www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/01/ministers_demand_justice_in_ki.htm l
2. Family wants police charged in New Orleans killing - CNN.com
"Adolph Grimes III, 22, drove to New Orleans to celebrate the New Year with. Adolph Grimes Jr., with grandson Chris, wife Patricia and his son's fiancee, ..."
www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/01/09/new.orleans.shooting/
3. Shooting of Adolph Grimes III demands answers - Editorials - Times ...
"4 Jan 2009 ... Undercover New Orleans police officers shot Adolph Grimes III 14 times, after he allegedly fired at the officers. ..."
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4. Protestors march against NOPD killing of Adolph Grimes III - C'est ...
"Protestors march against NOPD killing of Adolph Grimes III. Posted by dweaver, NOLA.com January 08, 2009 9:45PM. At 7:30 AM on Thursday morning, ..."
blog.nola.com/cest-la-nola/2009/01/protestors_march_against_nopd.html
5. Adolph Grimes Iii — Blogs, Pictures, and more on WordPress
"theloniousjay wrote 3 days ago : As developments unfold in the Oscar Grant killing in California’s Bay Area — a peaceful … more → ..."
wordpress.com/tag/adolph-grimes-iii/
6. "Adolph Grimes III" Video Search Results - Search Videos Online ...
""Adolph Grimes III" Videos and Video Clips · The Times Picayune ... Entries from Video - Times-Picayune - NOLA.com tagged with 'Adolph Grimes III' ..."
comment-blog.advance.net/cgi-bin/mte/mt-search.cgi?tag=Adolph%20Grimes %20III&blog_id=3235
7. News - Impact - Times-Picayune - NOLA.com: Search
"6 Jan 2009 ... Riley said Adolph Grimes III sparked a "gunbattle" with officers when he fired at an unmarked police vehicle that pulled up next to his car. ..."
comment-blog.advance.net/cgi-bin/mte/mt-search.cgi?tag=Adolph%20Grimes %20III&blog_id=2986
8. Protestors March Against NOPD Killing of Adolph Grimes III ...
"Undercover New Orleans police officers shot Adolph Grimes III 14 times, after he allegedly fired at the officers. NOLA.com | At 7:30 AM on Thursday morning, ..."
justgetthere.us/blog/archives/Protestors-March-Against-NOPD-Killing-of -Adolph-Grimes-III.html
9. I'm A Pimpin Turtle...: Shooting of Adolph Grimes III demands answers
"NOLA Undercover New Orleans police officers shot Adolph Grimes III 14 times, after he allegedly fired at the officers. New Orleanians have many unanswered ..."
pimpinturtle.com/2009/01/09/shooting-of-adolph-grimes-iii-demands-answ ers.aspx
10. The Savvy Sista: Adolph Grimes III Shot 14 times by police, Family ...
"NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (CNN) -- As fireworks exploded over the Big Easy on New Year's Eve, 22-year-old Adolph Grimes III pulled up to his grandmother's home ..."
www.the-savvy-sista.com/2009/01/adolph-grimes-iii-shot-14-times-by.htm l
11. New Orleans Police shoots Adolph Grimes III 12 Times in Back
"10 Jan 2009 ... New Orleans Police shoots Man 12 Times in Back - Video January 10 2009 The 22- year-old man killed early Thursday in a police shootout was ..."
www.industryfinest.com/blogs/hip-hop-blog/-new-orleans-police-shoots-a dolph-grimes-iii-12-times-in-back.html
12. Adolph Grimes III - Shot 12 Times in The Back By Police (Video ...
"10 Jan 2009 ... Here's some news coverage discussing the 22-year-old man named Adolph Grimes III - who was shot and killed early last Thursday in New ..."
www.yungdrew.com/2009/01/10/adolph-grimes-iii-shot-12-times-in-the-bac k-by-police-video/
13. Adolph Grimes III Murdered, Shot 12 Times In The Back By Police ...
"Malcolm-Che.com Blog Archive Adolph Grimes III Murdered, Shot 12 Times In The Back By Police (see website for pic of Adolph Grimes III) News is now."
www.assatashakur.org/forum/hood-news/36067-adolph-grimes-iii-murdered- shot-12-times-back-police.html
14. Alex Jones' Infowars.com: Because there is a war on for your mind!
"10 Jan 2009 ... On New Year’s Day in New Orleans, 22-year-old Adolph Grimes III was killed by nine undercover police officers in a shooting just down the ..."
www.infowars.com/?p=7082
15. Community Mobilizes Against Police Murder of Adolph Grimes : NOLA ...
"8 Jan 2009 ... Adolph Grimes, III... adolph-grimes.jpg, image/jpeg, 150x190. Killed by the NOPD on New Year's Day. darwinbondgraham.blogspot.com ..."
neworleans.indymedia.org/news/2009/01/13509.php
16. Adolph Grimes - news
"9 Jan 2009 ... 22-year-old Adolph Grimes III was killed early last Thursday in New ... Adolph Grimes III shot and killed by police walking to his car from ..."
www.wikio.com/news/Adolph+Grimes
17. New Orleans mobilizes against police murder of Adolph Grimes | San ...
"8 Jan 2009 ... 8, with signs that demand “Justice for Adolph Grimes III” and “Self- Determination for the African-American Nation. ..."
www.sfbayview.com/2009/new-orleans-mobilizes-against-police-murder-of- adolph-grimes/
18. Adolph Grimes Shot 14 Times by Undercover New Orleans Police
"11 Jan 2009 ... On New Year's Day in New Orleans, 22-year-old Adolph Grimes III was killed by nine undercover police officers in a shooting just down the ..."
www.selectsmart.com/DISCUSS/read.php?16,678130,678130,quote=1
19. Adolph Grimes Shot 14 Times by Undercover New Orleans Police ...
"10 Jan 2009 ... On New Year's Day in New Orleans, 22-year-old Adolph Grimes III was killed by nine undercover cops in a shooting just down the block from ..."
www.associatedcontent.com/pop_print.shtml?content_type=article&content _type_id=1377151
20. Twitter / Yung Drew: Adolph Grimes III - Shot 1 ...
"Twitter is a free social messaging utility for staying connected in real-time."
twitter.com/yungdrew/status/1109886364
Relating to Robert Tolan
3. Texas Police Officer Shoots Man In Own Driveway Over SUV - cbs13.com
"7 Jan 2009 ... Very few answers have been provided to a Texas family who want to know why a police officer shot 23-year-old Robert Tolan in their driveway ..."
cbs13.com/national/Robert.Tolan.shot.2.902245.html
6. Robert Tolan | News You Should Know | BET.com
"Robert Tolan, and his cousin, Anthony Cooper, were returning from a fast-food shop when police officers pulled up to Tolan’s home and ordered both men to ..."
blogs.bet.com/news/newsyoushouldknow/tag/robert-tolan/
8. Robert Tolan Shooting - Topix
"Robert Tolan Shooting. Posted Jan 9th 2009 9:22AM by Branden Cobb Filed under: BlackSpin , News It's just another case of police putting a bullet in an ..."
www.topix.com/city/bellaire-tx/2009/01/robert-tolan-shooting
9. The Lynching of Robert Tolan « A Twitch upon the Thread
"1 Jan 2009 ... 23-year old Robert Tolan, son of major league baseball player Bobby Tolan, shot by a Bellaire policeman while he lay on the ground in ..."
billcork.wordpress.com/2009/01/01/the-lynching-of-robert-tolan/
10. Latest Robert Tolan News - Examiner.com
"Latest Robert Tolan news stories at Examiner.com. ... The family of Robert Tolan , who is black, said he was a victim of racial profiling and did nothing to ..."
www.examiner.com/Subject-Robert_Tolan.html
11. Bobby Tolan's son shot by police - UPI.com
"31 Dec 2008 ... A police officer in Bellaire, Texas, shot Robert Tolan, 23, early Wednesday after incorrectly believing the Nissan sport utility vehicle he ..."
www.upi.com/Sports_News/2008/12/31/Bobby_Tolans_son_shot_by_police/UPI -46921230746562/
14. Community activists protest shooting of Robert Tolan - 1/06/09 ...
"6 Jan 2009 ... Community activists gathered to protest what they say was a 'racial profile' shooting."
abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=6589323
15. Robert Tolan — Blogs, Pictures, and more on WordPress
"Find other items tagged with “robert-tolan”:. Technorati Del.icio.us IceRocket · 24/7 Support · Free Features · Premium Features · VIP · Terms of Service ..."
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18. Another trigger-happy Texas cop, another black man shot: Robert ...
"The Progressive Puppy: Another trigger-happy Texas cop, another black man shot. A 23-year old man, Robert Tolan, pulls into his own driveway in an."
www.assatashakur.org/forum/open-forum/36050-another-trigger-happy-texa s-cop-another-black-man-shot-robert-tolan.html
20. Family: Bellaire officer shot man because he's black | Front page ...
"1 Jan 2009 ... During a news conference on the case Wednesday, a photograph of victim Robert Tolan sits outside his family home, where he was shot. ..."
www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6188505.html

[Disco_Destroyer]

Oakland on Fire: Anarchists, Solidarity, and New Possibilities in the Oakland Rebellion
Kara N. Tina
Counterpunch

"I'm sorry my car was burned but the issue is very upsetting."
-Ken Epstein, assistant editor of the Oakland Post, who was finishing an article about Grant's death, watched from the 12th story of his office at 14th and Franklin streets as his 2002 Honda CR-V disintegrated in a roar of flames (Oakland Tribune)

The murder of Oscar Grant by Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) police officer Johannes Mehserle early New Year's morning sent a wave of grief throughout the Bay Area and reminded all that racism and police violence continue to be endemic components of US society. During the following days, that pain transformed into overflowing anger as multiple videos of the execution recorded by witnesses emerged on the internet and in the media. One week later on January 7, over a thousand people from diverse communities across Oakland and the Bay Area gathered to show their anger and be in the presence of others feeling similar grief. This hastily planned rally shut down the Fruitvale BART station where the shooting took place as speaker after speaker addressed the crowd. Without any plan or organization, the vast majority of those who patiently listened to speakers for over two hours took the demonstration into the streets with a spirited march that made its way towards downtown as the sun set.

As the march reached the Lake Merritt BART station and headquarters of BART police downtown, clashes immediately broke out leaving one police cruiser destroyed alongside a burning dumpster. Marchers dispersed down side streets to the sounds of police weapons discharging and the sting of tear gas in the air. The following hours witnessed waves of rioting and demonstrations throughout downtown Oakland that even forced Mayor Ron Dellums to come out into the streets and promise the opening of a homicide investigation in a failed attempt to subdue the angry crowds. Hundreds of businesses and cars were damaged or destroyed and dumpsters were left burning. The next day, a BART board of directors meeting was filled beyond capacity and overwhelmed with community members expressing indignant rage, clearly feeling validated and empowered to speak up by the previous night's rebellion.

In the days since the unrest, rumors have begun to circulate that anarchists hijacked the otherwise peaceful event and were responsible for unleashing the 'violence'. A cover story in the San Francisco Chronicle two days after the rioting quoted an organizer of the Fruitvale rally as saying that he was led to tears when his work was "destroyed by a group of anarchists." This dangerous and misleading narrative obscures what actually transpired and why, on that evening, the streets of Oakland unleashed such a powerful show of resistance and solidarity that gave many an empowered glimpse of radical new possibilities.

It is true that anarchists were present from start to finish on Wednesday. Counter to some generalizations that assume all anarchists are white, those who were there on Wednesday come from diverse backgrounds. They participated in a wide variety of ways; from spreading the word about the rally beforehand in order to have a large turnout, to spending hours painting banners and signs, to engaging in militant street actions, to being rounded up and at times beaten and arrested. Anarchists are among the over 100 community members who now face charges ranging from misdemeanor rioting to different felonies.

African-American youth made up the majority of those involved in the actions along with sizable numbers of anarchists as well as other youth of color and activist folk who were all there side by side. During the rioting, there was a sense of unity in the air and a defiant mood of solidarity among all who faced off against the police. Anarchists tend to show up at all demonstrations prepared to act should the situation escalate, and this case was no different. Yet it is simply incorrect to suggest that there was some conspiracy of anarchists from the 'outside' who were able to manipulate the helpless youth of Oakland as part of their sinister agenda. This is a paternalistic and disempowering misreading of what was unquestionably a spontaneous outpouring of rage, led by youth of color, creating an extremely empowering moment for participants in the streets. There, temporary alliances were made as those who were motivated to act in the moment experienced a unique cross-pollination that cut across the inhibiting social boundaries of everyday life.

The allegations of an anarchist takeover are destructively misleading. At best they come from ignorance and at worse they represent a flawed and divisive ideology of social change which embodies paternalistic and racist assumptions about those involved in the actions. To scapegoat anarchists for what transpired, robs from marginalized and oppressed youth of color the agency they possess and the power to resist which they demonstrated that evening. It also ignores the remarkable diversity and unique solidarity in the streets that created an liberating experience far beyond any rally or march.

There were some moments during which individual anarchists attempted to influence the course of events, but these instances still do not fit into the narrative that the corporate media and some organizers have tried to tell. At one point a group of black youth smashing the windows of a locally owned business were encouraged to target large corporations and banks instead of 'mom and pop' shops. They proceeded to do just that. Anarchists also un-arrested youth, and encouraged people to push dumpsters and other objects into the streets to prevent the police from advancing, a tactic that was quickly picked up and utilized. Other examples of this type of interchange involved anarchists encouraging youth participating in the riots to wear bandanas over their faces, change clothes during calm moments and other tactics to help avoid arrest or identification. Without question, the exchange went both ways as anarchists took away valuable lessons in mobility, evasion, and more as they worked together with the youth throughout the night.

None of this, however, suggests that anarchists had some sort of control or single handedly determined the events that transpired. The rage and energy that transformed downtown Oakland into a momentary battlefield came from those who are most directly affected by the racist police state regime. No one group had any control over what unfolded. It was a spontaneous rebellion that sprang organically from the streets of Oakland and in retrospect anarchists played an important yet relatively minor role.

The property destruction and rage that burned throughout downtown Oakland was at times undirected and ended up damaging many small businesses and cars along with corporate targets such as Sears and McDonald's. However, some of the most powerful moments that parralled the destruction were confrontations with police and sponatenous high energy gatherings of people in the street who refused to be dispersed. It was during these moments that chanting would again erupt from the crowd reminding all who were present that the direct political demands of justice for Oscar Grant and active resistance to the racist police state system in the United States were the motivations of all who took to the streets that evening.

It's important to also remember that not one person was assaulted during the actions and there were no reports of fights or scuffles amongst the groups of youth who resisted police and destroyed property into the night. In this sense, the rebellion was not violent. It is disturbing to watch as fellow organizers and members of our communities have uncritically adopted the rhetoric of the right in their confused denunciation of mass property destruction as 'violence'.

On the other hand the Oakland Police Department, who everyday harass, intimidate and beat Oakland's youth, was unleashing its very real violence that night. Police opened fire on crowds with different types of less lethal projectiles and in some cases shot tear gas canisters directly into people's bodies. A Berkeley High teacher had his face bashed during arrest and spent the night in the hospital before being taken back downtown for booking. A man taking pictures was attacked by police and his bike helmet was cracked as he was beaten. During the mass arrest at the end of the night, 80 people were forced by police to lay on their stomachs at 20th and Broadway, including a very pregnant woman who was screaming in pain.

What manifested during the Oakland rebellion was a moment of interchange and revolutionary transformation that rarely happens within the rituals of left organizing in the Bay Area. Between white "community organizers" overtaken by guilt into an impotent politics of servitude, professional activists worried about annual reports and grant cycles, and vanguardist marxist sects continually looking to use the next demonstration as a recruiting drive, many radicals find themselves in a desert devoid of revolutionary activity and thought. Within this barren landscape, it is rare to find new possibilities for radical social change while combatting racism and the constant oppression of capitalism. Resisting the police shoulder to shoulder, destroying property (albeit with different emphasis), helping one another evade arrest, exchanging tactics and gestures of solidarity across racial barriers pushes the desire for a multi-racial revolutionary movement years ahead, more than any speaker at a rally ever could.

Anarchists are very accustomed to accusations of spoiling carefully managed demonstrations, and in some cases this is true and necessary. The Oakland rebellion was a different story. Those who are truly committed to revolutionary change in this country need to appreciate the significance of what unfolded in the streets that night and move forward without falling into the usual sectarian traps.

This analysis was written collaboratively by a group of anarchists based out of Oakland who together were present at all moments during the rebellion.
http://info.interactivist.net/node/11811

[Disco_Destroyer]

* the Police They Can't Shoot Us All


Link