Oakland Versus Anarchy

Tomorrow’s (today’s) story. A Los Angeles County jury convicted former BART officer Johannes Mehserle of involuntary manslaughter, in the killing of Oscar Grant. This surprise verdict is the least severe of the guilty options available. Over the coming days we will find out what the jury was thinking, if they choose to reveal themselves. Until then we can only wonder. Do not be surprised if the Feds (Justice Dept.) step in and charge Mehserle.

Last night’s story was one of anarchists against the Oakland PD, with a side order of thuggery. There was an expected protest gathering in Downtown Oakland, over the verdict. All was peaceful until darkness, when the uninvited anarchists reared their heads. They are easily identified as young white adults in hoodies and masks, with a determination to provoke the cops. Mix them in with a smaller group of black thugs, with an eye for footwear, and the result is a trashed Footlocker store. BTW, the majority of the arrests were ‘anarchies’.

At first, I thought the OPD were making things worse, but through the night I changed my mind. If the white thugs were hell bent on a fight, then the OPD tactic of pressing everybody into a one-block thoroughfare definitely focused, and limited, the damage. I do not think there was a totally peaceful way to relieve the crowd. It was clear that too many of these knuckleheads came to dust it up. This OPD coolheadedness was in stark contrast to earlier bumbling, at the time of the killing a year and a half ago.

What I learned? Less-lethal tasers should NOT be made to resemble deadly firearms, and should, at minimum, be all-orange or yellow. Living or dying should not be subject to split-second confusion! On Mehserle, the judge in the case will get the last chance to raise the bar on the value of life on BART platforms. The final verdict rest somewhere between 5 and 14 years in prison, meted out on August 6. Stay tuned.

James C. Collier

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