Revolution #208, July 25, 2010
Another OPD – BART Police Killing in Oakland
A little more than a week after the "involuntary manslaughter" verdict of ex-BART cop Johannes Mehserle, police killed a man in a neighborhood near the same BART station where Oscar Grant was murdered a year and a half ago. People in the Fruitvale neighborhood were stunned, many awakening to a huge volley of shots. At least 5 police, from Oakland PD and BART fired as many as 50 shots. One man who saw the shooting said that a "gang" of over 15 police was there, and police were shooting from different angles. More than one witness says that the man, who appeared homeless, wearing heavy clothes and possibly two backpacks, was backing away, agitated and saying "Shoot me! Shoot me!" Then the police opened fire, killing him. Even if the police’s story is true: what kind of society is it that considers it OK for its police to gun down people who are mentally ill and acting out?
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