Young People in Antioch on Hunger Strike to Reverse Killer Cop Hire

Posted on September 7, 2020 by Admin

A group of young people in Antioch, California have embarked on a hunger strike to demand that the Antioch Police Department rescind the hire of Officer Michael Mellone, who departed the San Francisco Police Department after being one of two officers who fatally shot Luis Gongora Pat in San Francisco’s Mission District.

The six young people are using the hashtag #6Forced2Strike. You can provide financial support to the hunger strikers here.

Mellone quit his job in San Francisco shortly before internal discipline was to start and applied for and was hired in Antioch. Senate Bill 731, which failed to get a hearing in the CA Assembly on August 31 would have introduced a decertification process for CA officer misconduct. CA is one of only 5 US states that cannot currrently decertify police officers.

To keep up to date with the status of the strike, check in with:

Justice Advocates and Resources of East County (JAR)

Make a Stand in Your Community

Hunger Strike Antioch

Document Archive for Pedie Perez Shooting by Richmond Police

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Posted on August 31, 2020 by Admin

The Oscar Grant Committee works closely with the families of young people shot by law enforcement officers in the Bay Area. One of the families we have worked most closely with is the Perez family in Richmond, whose son Richard “Pedie” Perez, Jr was shot by Richmond Police Officer Wallace Jensen.

This document archive contains videos, audio of investigatory and witness interviews, autopsy and coroner photographs and extensive documentation. We believe it paints a compelling picture of a cover-up and an officer guilty of the murder of a civilian who was never charged.

We invite you to review our document archive. Here is a PDF with additional information from Justice4Pedie.

Oakland Police Chief Fired By Police Commission

Posted on August 9, 2020 by terran

Thursday Oakland’s civilian Police Commission unanimously recommended that Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick be terminated and Mayor Libby Schaaf approved.

Read more in the SF Chronicle: Oakland Police Commission fires Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick.

Voter-passed 2016 Measure LL allows 5 members of the volunteer police oversight commission to dismiss the police chief with the consent of the mayor. Kirkpatrick had been police chief for 3 years, being hired in 2017 in the wake of a scandal where dozens of cops were accused of having sexual relations with an under-aged prostitute. Since Kirkpatrick is being discharged “without good cause” she is entitled to a severance package valued at close to $300,000.

Mayor Schaaf said that it was her duty as mayor to recognize the role and authority of the Police Commission and also recognize when the trust between the commission and the police chief has become irrevocably broken. Police Commission Chairperson Regina Jackson says the new chief should redress the OPD’s excessive use of force against community members, and move the force towards compliance with the with the consent decree and court-ordered monitoring imposed after the 2003 Riders Scandal. The commission is demanding a more diverse and respectful OPD that becomes a model of Constitutional policing and justice. Rashidah Grinage and members of the Coalition for Police Accountability have been calling for Kirkpatrick to be terminated for almost a year. Grinage thanked the commission for its action.

11th Annual Oscar Grant Vigil: Gone But Not Forgotten

Posted on August 8, 2020 by terran

Wednesday, January 1st, 2020, noon–5pm
Fruitvale BART station

We want to remember the life of Oscar and as we remember his life there are others who lost their life by community violence. We want to remember them as well. This year we will have a family who lost their son on the same day as Oscar. Help us remember him as well.

Come out and support

Commemorating the Life of Oscar Grant. We are ALL Oscar Grant!

Gone But Not Forgotten

More information: oscargrantfoundation.org