Comments on: Oakland Oscar Grant BART Police Shooting Riots 01/07/09

By: Ewart

Ewart — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 08:30:16 +0000

This blog reflects typical American thinking: the highest priorities are public order, economic growth, and the oppressive laws and law enforcement that ensure the protection of private property. The lives of the “non-productive” lumpen-proletariat mean very little, and police gangsterism is encouraged to intimidate the unwashed.
The reality is that the OPD, like all urban police departments, is full of thuggish police officers who abuse their authority, and degrade and demean the “little people” who pay (some of) their salaries only because they are forced to do so by the exercise of state power. There are no heroes in uniform–only different degrees of violent criminality.

By: Melissa H

Melissa H — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 08:10:03 +0000

You go Gerry! I’m with you, brother!

By: Jim L

Jim L — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:06:04 +0000

Bravo! Well written, and throughly applaudable opinion. So glad to see such a civic-minded blog.

By: Rebecca R.

Rebecca R. — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 19:57:42 +0000

Amen, Gerry! That was SO well put and right on the money! We’re all outraged by what happened. But destroying the property of innocent people who support the cause as well does NOTHING but take away from the message. It’s sad. I work in Downtown Oakland and saw people in tears upon seeing their businesses and cars damaged and destroyed. These are working class folk; many of color who are just as angry at the inaction of the powers that be in dealing with this situation. The violent protetesters have hurt Oscar’s family even further by their violence. Even after the family BEGGED no more violence, it continued. The violent protesters are a bunch of loser opportunitsts who don’t give a SHITY about anything or anyone except their twisted, rambling and misdirected agendas. Sad. Thanks for posting this, Gerry.