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Op-ed: Coming up Short - and not Sweet
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Theo Konrad Auer
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Last Updated on January, 12 2009 at 09:35 AM
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| I must admit it is hard to be objective
here as I actually was at the protest that preceded Oakland’s recent
riots and know many of the activists who participated in it. Oscar
Grant was an assistant butcher at Farmer Joe’s, the neighborhood
grocery store I most commonly frequent. Three years ago, in a mugging
less than two blocks from where Mr. Grant was killed, I sustained head
injuries that left me in a coma and nearly took my life. In my case, I
had no measure of justice and am lucky and grateful to be alive. In
Oscar Grant’s case, it is my dearest hope that his family receives some
small but significant amount of justice–as this is something they will
carry with them for the rest of their lives. |
Photos: Santiago Wechsler
I must admit it is hard to be objective here as I actually was at the protest that preceded Oakland’s recent riots and know many of the activists who participated in it. Oscar Grant was an assistant butcher at Farmer Joe’s, the neighborhood grocery store I most commonly frequent. Three years ago, in a mugging less than two blocks from where Mr. Grant was killed, I sustained head injuries that left me in a coma and nearly took my life. In my case, I had no measure of justice and am lucky and grateful to be alive. In Oscar Grant’s case, it is my dearest hope that his family receives some small but significant amount of justice–as this is something they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.
On Wednesday afternoon, I planned to show my support by attending the protest decrying the unjust and unwarranted death of Mr. Grant. It took nearly an hour and half to make it there as BART had been diverted to the Coliseum station, and a highly disorganized assortment of late-arriving, deeply crowded AC transit buses were shuttling commuters back to the Fruitvale station, the site of the initial protest.
When I got there, I found a dignified and solemn gathering -- half filled with the usual protest crowd and half with folks I recognized from my neighborhood. It was spirited to be sure, but for the most part appropriately respectful. Activists from the Eastside Arts Alliance were in attendance as well as representatives from various communist and socialist organizations. There were several banners and posters comparing Oakland to the Gaza Strip, held aloft by what appeared to be mostly high school-aged kids. A few had some rather anti-Semitic imagery portraying Zionists as racist imperialist money grubbers, which obviously disappointed me, though by now, I’ve come to almost-expect displays of such a sentiment at political gatherings. It was of little surprise to me.
In my two hours at the protest, I heard many speakers. Some repeatedly compared Oakland to the Gaza Strip elaborating on the ethnic cleansing they believe to be happening here as well as there. Whether or not I fully agreed with them, I felt they should be allowed to have their say, too. That said, the yearly death toll in Gaza far surpasses that of Oakland. Others called for reforms in BART’s policing policies. Some drew a broad swath of criticism saying all local police are to blame. The most eloquent speaker was a close relative of Oscar Grant who called for calm and urged for progressive reforms in the wake of this tragedy. The speaker’s voice cracked a bit at times and at those times, I myself felt my eyes well up as well.
Some time later, a prominent local rapper came up for his chance to speak. Lightly paraphrased, here are some of his comments, “F**k the Police! You think we’re gonna let this stand. Tonight, we’re gonna set it off. Whatever. If we start a ruckus - we AIN'T gonna let folks forget! This is Oakland! F**k the Police. These are our streets!" The crowd became a bit rowdier at this point and a loud chant of “F**k the Police!” was repeated with a refrain of “F**k the OPD! F**k the BART police!” The volume began to rise.
Disappointment, dismay and surprise shook me as I recognized that the tone was shifting. I left for home to do some writing work. Later, after I rode the 53 bus line home, I thought much of the example set by some the elders on the left, and the aftertaste was bitter and not sweet at all. I thought of Oakland’s mayor Ron Dellums who took nearly a week to call on the Oakland Police Department to conduct their own investigation. I thought of the calls and email updates I got from friends describing the rioting in Downtown Oakland. I thought of the fearful patrons of one of my favorite local bars Van Kleefs peering from chain grating at the sad drama unfolding before them. I thought of the owners of riot-damaged local businesses like Creative African Braids. I thought of the words of twenty-four year old demonstrator Nia Sykes quoted on the damage of Creative African Braids in the San Francisco Chronicle, “[The owner] should be glad she just lost her business and not her life, I just hope nobody gets shot or killed.” Only just, huh? Another quote from Sykes, “I feel like Oakland should make some noise. This is how we fight back.” This sentiment was echoed in quotes found in our local papers as well as the blogosphere.
I want to know if burning the cars of mostly working class Oaklanders was worth it? I want to know if shattered glass can replace dreams deferred, because honestly I think that account has been overdrawn. On Wednesday, justice was found wanting in Oakland and it certainly could have been worse. Oakland’s police department should be commended for being mostly restrained in the face of thrown rocks and a monumentally charged evening. I wouldn’t breathlessly give our local media an “F”, because that letter belongs more clearly to the BART police, to the rioters whose destructive actions hurt their cause-- a cause that I am sympathetic to-- and to our mayor who should have taken action on this much, much sooner and much, much affirmatively.
Can Oakland afford this? City budget wise, Oakland is at a crossroads seemingly bordered at all points by an abyss of sadly all too familiar proportions. The old, now ever-more-tired story told about Oakland as a city is that its time is coming…soon…any time now…and what do you see: blight blemishing the beauty held within its borders. This is the image much of the country has of Oakland and I don’t think it is fair. We are better than that. We are better than shattered glass and dreams deferred. We are the city of self-determined visionaries like Bobby Seale, Jack London and Nathan Oliveira. Some of the best art, businesses and culture in the world has been born here and still can be seen at places like the Black New World and at the Oakland Art Murmur.
Where do we go from here? I am with the protestors in demanding reforms in BART’s police system. That said, I cannot stand by and not be heard in denouncing the frankly regressive actions of a few that diminished the peaceful and at times eloquent protest of the larger group. A true progressive dedicates oneself towards strengthening community and engaging in dialogue. I learned that from a Black Panther named Lee Williams with whom I once hosted a local performance poetry series. Let us take responsibility for ourselves and hold ourselves to a higher standard. We owe ourselves and our community that much. A model city won’t happen overnight and it takes hard work. Last Wednesday made clear, much work still needs to be done. |
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OAKLAND
CRIME
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