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Property damage, arrests in Oakland
OAKLAND, Calif., (UPI) -- Protesters broke store windows in Oakland, Calif., Thursday after a former transit officer who shot a young black man was convicted of involuntary manslaughter.
Community leaders, including Mayor Ron Dellums, appealed for calm but by 9:30 p.m. PDT, police had arrested dozens of people on charges including fighting with officers and weapons possession, the Oakland Tribune reported. A number of stores were looted and some protesters threw bottles, cans and other missiles at police.
City Councilman Larry Reid said the outburst "certainly is not peace or justice" for Oscar Grant III, who was shot and killed Jan. 1, 2009, on a Bay Area Rapid Transit platform.
The killing of Grant by Johannes Mehserle, a police officer with Bay Area Rapid Transit, outraged many in Oakland. Grant, who was unarmed, was shot in the back.
Streets were closed and buses had to be rerouted Thursday. At one point, a group of people surrounded a bus and refused to let it move.
Oscar Grant Sr., the young man's 64-year-old grandfather, addressed protesters Thursday.
"Don't come out here to fight," he said. "Don't dishonor my grandson's death by coming out here and tearing up Oakland. ... I know the verdict was wrong, but let's not tear up Oakland for it."
Many in the crowd echoed his sentiments. Brenda Appleby talked to a man urging protesters to riot.
"Maybe the verdict is wrong, but this is my community and my town," she said.
Justice Department officials had said the Civil Rights Division, the U.S. attorney's office and the FBI were still investigating Grant's death and would determine whether federal prosecution is called for. U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., who represents Oakland, said the Justice Department has assured her office "they are moving forward and conducting a thorough and independent review of the verdict," the Tribune said.
OAKLAND, Calif., (UPI) -- Protesters broke store windows in Oakland, Calif., Thursday after a former transit officer who shot a young black man was convicted of involuntary manslaughter.
Community leaders, including Mayor Ron Dellums, appealed for calm but by 9:30 p.m. PDT, police had arrested dozens of people on charges including fighting with officers and weapons possession, the Oakland Tribune reported. A number of stores were looted and some protesters threw bottles, cans and other missiles at police.
City Councilman Larry Reid said the outburst "certainly is not peace or justice" for Oscar Grant III, who was shot and killed Jan. 1, 2009, on a Bay Area Rapid Transit platform.
The killing of Grant by Johannes Mehserle, a police officer with Bay Area Rapid Transit, outraged many in Oakland. Grant, who was unarmed, was shot in the back.
Streets were closed and buses had to be rerouted Thursday. At one point, a group of people surrounded a bus and refused to let it move.
Oscar Grant Sr., the young man's 64-year-old grandfather, addressed protesters Thursday.
"Don't come out here to fight," he said. "Don't dishonor my grandson's death by coming out here and tearing up Oakland. ... I know the verdict was wrong, but let's not tear up Oakland for it."
Many in the crowd echoed his sentiments. Brenda Appleby talked to a man urging protesters to riot.
"Maybe the verdict is wrong, but this is my community and my town," she said.
Justice Department officials had said the Civil Rights Division, the U.S. attorney's office and the FBI were still investigating Grant's death and would determine whether federal prosecution is called for. U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., who represents Oakland, said the Justice Department has assured her office "they are moving forward and conducting a thorough and independent review of the verdict," the Tribune said.
