Riots in Oakland (Brea, London: appointed, condo, crime)

[Taboo2]

Are these protesters really so stupid that they don't realize that all they are doing is ruining the lives of those who work and live there, hard working INNOCENT People just like Oscar Grant was.

Yeah, i knew them in my past and it's not stupidity, it's because they know it is the perfect time to wreak some havoc - they just DON'T CARE about the innocent lives they are wrecking.


It's looking like some Oaklanders just like to BREAK stuff when they are angry or frustrated about events, even if it is their OWN stuff, MUCH like children do.

This is why Oakland sadly is probably not going to ever progress to be the city it really COULD be.

No matter how many awesome stores they bring to Jack London, no matter how made over the Fox Theater becomes, no matter how many downtown parades they have, they haven't bothered to teach many of the citizens how to behave and how to not HARM innocent people just because you are angry about something. These people ARE NO BETTER than the rampant abuse of police power.

Because too many of these citizens are more than happy to act like small children whenver a crisis emerges rather than behave like the grown adults they are. That should be a mandatory class they teach at all schools. How to not act like a baby when faced with a crisis.

There were grown men and women damaging people's business and cars, not because they were DIRECTLY involved in this tragedy and justifiable upset, but because it was a good reason to FIGHT about something.

Oh yes, i do know people like that from my youth who would have been ALL OVER this as an excuse to be rowdy and break stuff. Woulda been right down there causing some havoc without repercussions and give the finger to the cops because they are outnumbered, not because they loved or even cared about Oscar Grant being shot, but because they could say a big Eff U to the police and not get CAUGHT.

But just who were they fighting? Innocent other Oakland citizens, that's who.

So much easier to throw a tantrum when you are disappointed or angry and frustrated. This Oakland riot speaks for itself and the damage it has done to it's OWN community.

Not a very productive way to make your point.


PS I think they ruined what could have been a very touching and poignant memorial for a person whose life was taken from us to soon and didn't deserve to die. They ruined that sentiment for the whole protest when just a few bad apples decided to seek their own justice (by not even going after the right people responsible). They tainted any future protests now and most likely ALL will be denied.



(01-08) 09:17 PST Oakland --
A protest over the fatal shooting by a BART police officer of an unarmed black man mushroomed into several hours of violence Wednesday night as demonstrators smashed storefronts and cars, set several cars ablaze and blocked streets in downtown Oakland.
The roving mob expressed fury at police and frustration over society's racial injustice. Yet the demonstrators were often indiscriminate, frequently targeting the businesses and prized possessions of people of color. Moderator cut: Please re-post with just the link and a blurb

[dman72]

I've seen the video.

I don't think the cop intentionally shot the guy, but he was so careless and cost someone their life, so he should be out and possibly charged with manslaughter. It looks like he was going to taze the guy and he pulled out his gun instead and pulled the trigger. The guy was on the ground and handcuffed. The cop was in a rush to taze him because he was pissed off..the guy was no threat. It's bad.

However, destroying your city and acting like animals won't help anything.

[Sunnnee]

I live in the bay area and I agree, destroying other people's properties solved nothing. Yeah I agree maybe some issues in the city aren't the best, but bottom line: everyone wakes up everyday to either do the right or wrong thing. We all have a choice and if you choose wrong, then you need to pay the time in Jail. The cop that shot that kid, has never even apologized to his family and that in itself only makes the situation look even more worse. Either way, a life was lost and that should be the focus not on a bunch of idiots destroying other people's property.

Another reason why I don't live in that city.

[Taboo2]

Originally Posted by Sunnnee

The cop that shot that kid, has never even apologized to his family and that in itself only makes the situation look even more worse.

I thought at first, the cop looked remorseful when he intially shot the guy because he didn't have a gloating satisfied look on his face, it seemed more one of confusion.

But since he quit the force (under threat of being fired if he didn't start talking) and has yet to comment, defend himself, apologize the th victims family, or anything... he is looking guiltier and guiltier each day.

If you are innocent you protest your innocence and explain yourself. His actions after the incident, and the actions of BART not making him talk to investigators, is what is upsetting.

But that is no reason to destroy your city and run wild in the streets. I don't think the rioting part had anything to do with this incident. It was just another reason to wreak havoc and taunt police.

[Nella925]

The people who rioted probably were just young and stupid and wanted attention...I doubt they reflect the larger number of people who continued to march and were there for the right reasons.
It's really sad that they did this to innocent people...all for what??? I doubt any of the rioters really cared about what happened on new years day, they just wanted a reason to act stupid.
I feel for those who marched last night and kept marching and remaining civil while others began to destroy things.

But I still want that officer to be charged and brought to justice...

[jamesia]

It was an execution style shooting. The guy was pinned down by one officer, and another officer stood up, withdrew his weapon, and then shot. He didn't stand there, aim his weapon, and say he'd shoot if so-and-so didn't happen. He just withdrew his weapon and shot. Point blank even.

It may have been an accident, but the cop was a 2 year veteran - not a rookie. So it can't be blamed on a rookie mistake. The cop was worked up to the point of shooting someone - not a quality a cop should have, right? And then he does this legal posturing by quiting his job rather than give a statement. It's bull****, and absolutely disrespectful to the family of the killed boy. If I was a cop and accidently shot a kid, I'd be at the kid's parents' house, giving my profuse condolences, not some hackneyed statement via press release.

Rioters shouldn't be destroying property, sure, but it does send a message that people aren't just going to send an Angry Worded Letter or have a Angry-But-Peaceful Demonstration when a cop unjustly kills someone. Otherwise cops will just go around tazing people or shooting them, knowing they'll get basically a slap on the wrist, rather than having their name emblazened in history as the person that incited riots. The cop may get criminal punishment of some kind, but his ruined reputation is a much better punishment. The cop's legal posturing shows that he doesn't intend to accept criminal punishment.

[Taboo2]

Originally Posted by jamesia

Rioters shouldn't be destroying property, sure, but it does send a message that people aren't just going to send an Angry Worded Letter or have a Angry-But-Peaceful Demonstration when a cop unjustly kills someone. Otherwise cops will just go around tazing people or shooting them, knowing they'll get basically a slap on the wrist, rather than having their name emblazened in history as the person that incited riots. The cop may get criminal punishment of some kind, but his ruined reputation is a much better punishment. The cop's legal posturing shows that he doesn't intend to accept criminal punishment.

Actually, the message it sends out into the real world is that Oakland is full of heathens who have no self control over ourselves and our behavior.
That we are children who throw tantrums instead of dealing with this terrible tragedy like normal adults. By helping the family seek justice and insisting the powers-that-be install more oversight on cops so we can stop them from running rampant on power trips.

This rioting reinforced to the naysayers that Oakland is a dangerous place where criminals run rampant and innocent people are easy targets for violence. Not somewhere I want to do business in or with that is for sure.

It tells the outside world that we blew our rights to protest peacfully because it is a front and we enjoy trashing our own community to show how upset we are. We enjoy hurting our neighbors and friends because we are MAD.

IT shows that we abused our power to protest with childish antics and dangerous behavior that hurts innocent people who had nothing to do with the murder.

If they really wanted to show how big bad and bothered they are about this murder, they would have went to BART station headquarters and tore THAT place apart. Instead they attacked innocent business and taunted a bunch of cops who weren't even involved in the crime and are actually doing a parallel investigation to make sure no one gets away with anything.

There was no good reason for that and it accomplished absolutely nothing but to give Oakland an even shadier rep than it already has.

[BRinSM]

i saw the coverage on this and I agree with both sides. the people should not allow themselves to live in fear of the actions of the police, but they shouldn't be destroying the city either. now would be a good time for an MLK like figure to step in and organize the built up aggression so the people who are upset (as they should be) can express themselves in a collective and influential manner.

[Nella925]

If you guys watch fox news you will see that most of the people who turned this march/protest into a riot were rioters who have rioted plenty times before. They knew how to get people pumped up and were giving directions of what to do. i doubt they really cared for the killing, but were just taking the opportunity to do it.

And even though no one has said it...it has been alluded to...from what I saw a nice chunk of the people who were rioting and breaking stuff were not black, so lets just squash that assumption now.

[gizmo980]

Originally Posted by Taboo2

I thought at first, the cop looked remorseful when he intially shot the guy because he didn't have a gloating satisfied look on his face, it seemed more one of confusion.

But since he quit the force (under threat of being fired if he didn't start talking) and has yet to comment, defend himself, apologize the th victims family, or anything... he is looking guiltier and guiltier each day.

If you are innocent you protest your innocence and explain yourself. His actions after the incident, and the actions of BART not making him talk to investigators, is what is upsetting.

I'm pretty sure he is being silent under orders... police can't just talk to the press without regard, especially if there is a pending legal case/investigation.