Oscar Grant killer cop’s trial to be moved out of Oakland

[Moorbey]

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Oscar Grant killer cop’s trial to be moved out of Oakland

Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums is calling for calm as the word hits justice lovers like thunder of a judge’s ruling just hours ago that BART cop Johannes Mehserle, who ushered in 2009 by shooting young brother Oscar Grant in cold blood, will be tried for murder anywhere but Oakland. No date has been set for a hearing to decide the new trial venue. The trial is still scheduled to begin Nov. 2.

Speaking this evening for Oscar’s family are his Uncle Bobby and Jack Bryson at a screening of Minister of Information JR’s new documentary, “Operation Small Axe,” tonight at the RPS Gallery, 2278 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. Read their perspective in Police don’t want to be tried in Oakland for murder of Oscar Grant and look for an update at San Francisco Bay View very shortly. The film will be shown again tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 17, 1:30 p.m., at the West Oakland Library, 18th & Adeline, at the Black Panther Film Festival.

Cynthia McKinney describes “Operation Small Axe” in My visit to Cape Town, South Africa: “At Channel 4’s Palestinian Struggle and Human Spirit Film Festival, I debuted a short documentary on the police murder of Oscar Grant in Oakland , California . This documentary shows the occupation of Black and Brown neighborhoods by a militarized local law enforcement apparatus that parallels, in many ways, the current experiences of neighborhoods of color in post-apartheid South Africa and of Palestinians on their own occupied land. …

“The film was very well received by the South African audience, who told me that their experience is exactly like that experienced by the young people of the Bay Area, up to and including the murder of Oscar Grant, as chronicled in the film. The South African audience could not believe that they were watching actual footage of a young man’s murder.”

One way the Bay View plans to fight for justice for Oscar Grant and stop police terrorism despite the change-of-venue challenge is with a speaking tour coming up soon featuring Oscar’s Uncle Bobby and Jack Bryson, two powerful spokesmen, and “Operation Small Axe.” Stay tuned for details. POCC Chairman Fred Hampton Jr., whose Bay View and Block Report-sponsored speaking tour starts early next month, will also sharpen the debate.

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Hearing on Oscar Grant reports condemning the BART Police Department: Assemblyman Tom Ammiano of San Francisco, who’s proved to be a good friend to the Black community on several issues lately, will be holding a hearing at the Assembly Committee on Public Safety Tuesday, Oct. 20, 10 a.m. to 12 noon, focusing on the findings of the Meyers Nave and NOBLE reports, which severely criticize the BART Police Department for the murder of Oscar Grant. Read the reports at BART - BART receives final reports on New Years Day shooting and BART - BART receives draft of key report recommending police improvements and take the train or carpool to Sacramento for the hearing in the State Capitol, Room 126. Public comment begins at 11:30 a.m.

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Read The First Annual Mindfunk Public Art Festival: Meet the founder, visual artist Eesuu Orundide and attend the festival tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 17, 4 p.m., at Raimondi Park in West Oakland . “The purpose of the festival is to inject public art with a shot of funk and transform it into something to gather community around,” says Eesuu.

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Make way for Breaking the Silence … Congo Week Oct. 17-24. Minister of Information JR’s Block Report Radio is a sponsor and several of the events will be held in our friend Marcel Diallo’s West Oakland Bottoms Black cultural district, including the opener, Nkembo Nkembo African Dance Party with an array of legendary DJs spinning everything from Soukous to R&B and Rap at Cornelia Bell’s, 1018 Pine St., West Oakland tomorrow, Saturday night, Oct. 17-18, 10 p.m.-4 a.m. All the many events, packed with information and fun, are listed in the Bay View Calendar of Events. And be sure to read The challenges of Congo advocacy in the 21st century by our friend, the national spokesperson for Friends of the Congo , Kambale Musavuli. Then organize and stop the genocide and rape of our Congolese sisters and brothers and their resource-rich land.

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Free tickets to ‘Good Hair’: The Bay View is giving away free tickets to a special screening of Chris Rock’s new film inspired by his little girl, who asked him, “Daddy, why don’t I have good hair?” Call me at (415) 671-0789 for your ticket – each one admits two – to a special screening of “Good Hair” on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 7 p.m., at the Century 9 SF Centre, 845 Market St. , Fifth Floor, San Francisco . Read Esther Iverem’s review, Relax and get ‘Good Hair,’ and a great local story on the Korean takeover of Black hair care product retailing by Patricia Pittman Mitchell, Don’t shop where you can’t work and be treated as a human being.

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Here are the rest of the latest sfbayview.com stories, with more coming daily:

Bayview residents offer to sell one quarter of Mark Leno’s office for private condo development

The mind of Gil Scott Heron, Part 2

M1 of Dead Prez with Boots Riley at Santa Cruz Barrios Unidos
Legendary writer, poet and cultural critic: an interview wit’ Amiri Baraka

Get off Obama’s back ... second thoughts from Michael Moore

The Kaos Network: an interview with owner Ben Caldwell

Mental Graffiti: an interview with Houston-based artist and radio producer Zin

Reach out to a brother or sister behind enemy lines who needs to know somebody cares. Find your friend from among the many appeals for friendship at Pen Pals. And if you have a dollar or two to spare, donate to the Bay View Prisoners’ Subscription Fund at Support SF BayView. Prisoners say, “The Bay View keeps me alive.” While you’re there, buy a Bay View T-shirt and wear it proudly!

Mary Ratcliff, editor


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