Friday, January 16, 2009

Riots erupt in Oakland after funeral of Oscar Grant



"We live a life of fear, and we want them to be afraid tonight,"
-anonymous female rioter






In the early hours of January 1st, Bay Area Metro Transit (BART) police shot and killed a 22 year old man, Oscar Grant, on the platform of the Fruitvale BART station in Oakland. Grant was being held on the ground by two officers and was not struggling as another cop, Officer Johannes Mehserle, took out his gun and shot Grant in the back fatally wounding him. All of this took place in front of a crowd of people some of whom filmed the murder with cell phone cameras.

On January 7th Grant's funeral, as well as protests took place. A march leaving from the metro station where Grant was murdered made its way to downtown Oakland where the crowds fury was unleashed. Dumpsters were set on fire and a police cruiser was attacked, police counter attacked and over the course of the night cars were set on fire, businesses were attacked, and over 100 arrests were made.

Breaking News as it happened from Indybay


Video of Oscar's Murder:


Video of the rioting:




More footage

and here

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