What about the "higher-ups," BART officials, the City of Oakland, the courts? BART officials express sorrow for the killing, yet their own "investigation" made no recommendations, they've reprimanded none of their police, and they claim there's no BART surveillance video showing what happened, despite the fact that BART trains and stations all have cameras in them. BART's Police Chief Gee wrote a memo to his troops, explaining how to send money to Mehserle while he was in jail.
Oakland's DA didn't arrest Mehserle for nearly two weeks (and then only because people rebelled); Pirone-who initiated the brutality that led to murder and could have been charged with felony murder-has not even been arrested. Nor have any of the other cops. And in its first "prosecution" brief, the DA reiterates the police's version of events, including repeating Pirone's claim that Mehserle thought Oscar was going for his waistband (and possibly a gun). Oscar Grant was unarmed.
All the police violence leading to Oscar's murder has been treated as normal, "no big deal," by the authorities and media. And in this system, police violence IS routine and systemic.
Take Oscar and his friends: "These youth are used to being accosted by the police" said one of the aunties, "it's been going on since they were 13 years old." (Another mother showed Revolution pictures of the wounds her son received after a beating by Hayward Police several years ago, which broke teeth: he had to be treated in the hospital, including for severe taser burns on his back.)
This system is showing that it will do everything it can to protect the ability of its police to brutalize, terrorize and murder the people. Enough is enough!
There is a real need for continued and increased protest, and independent journalistic investigation into the murder and its cover-up. We cannot allow this kind of blatant murder to be "routinized," excused, or tolerated.
On March 22, Revolution Books and the Bay Area Revolution Club are holding a People's Tribunal on the Murder of Oscar Grant and the Nationwide Epidemic of Police Brutality that will indict Oscar Grant's killer and "the whole damn system."
The next day, March 23, is Mehserle's preliminary hearing. Both are key junctures in this battle, and big outpourings of people are needed at both. [Links to videos of the events leading up to, and the murder of Oscar Grant are available at http://www.ktvu.com/news/18426590/detail.html]
http://www.revcom.us/a/158online/Tribunal-en.html
PEOPLE'S TRIBUNAL
The Murder of Oscar Grant and the Nationwide Epidemic of Police Brutality and Murder Hear relatives of victims of police murder, journalists, legal experts, arrested activists, and others present testimony, evidence and analysis of Oscar Grant's murder-what happened and why; the nationwide epidemic of police brutality and murder; racism, national oppression and the targeting of Black, Latino and other youth of color; and the systemic roots of this epidemic.
Initiators: Bay Area Revolution Club 510-725-8754 bayarearevolutionclub@gmail.comRevolution Books 510-848-1196 www.revolutionbooks.org
Sunday, March 22nd, 2-6pm
Where: Calvin Simmons Middle School Cafeteria2101 35th Ave, Oakland (south of Fruitvale Avenue, east of Foothill Boulevard. Enter 35th Avenue Gate for parking lot.)
Demonstrate: Justice for Oscar Grant Preliminary Hearing for Oscar Grant's killer, BART Cop Johannes Mesherle (This hearing will determine what charges, if any, Mesherle will be facing and whether he will be tried, including for murder) Monday, March 23, 8:00 am Alameda County Courthouse – 125 Fallon Street – Downtown Oakland
Article posted with permission of REVOLUTION
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