Comments on: Downtown Oakland riot link round-up

By: Charles Pine

Charles Pine — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 03:23:02 +0000

Oh Pleeze commented, “I take exception to cheapening Oakland’s riots as ‘unplanned’, or ‘[a] peaceful protest erupting into violence.’ The anger wasn’t spontaneous: It was planned, if not orchestrated.”

There’s another angle, too: the failure of the Jan. 7 protest organizer to take measures to keep the event peaceful when the potential for unfocused anger to boil over into a riot was obvious. See http://www.orpn.org/Blackmon1.htm

By: len raphael

len raphael — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 03:34:40 +0000

in the spirit of these postings, for first time in 30 years, went to 15th and bway at night to go to a restaurant. MA’s praise of Ichiro was more than justified.

By: Navigator

Navigator — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 21:24:50 +0000

OaklandSpaceAcademy,

I sure will. Thanks again.

By: Navigator

Navigator — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 21:22:45 +0000

Max,

I appreciate that. Yes, I’ve really enjoyed some of our discussions. I know I can be overly opinionated at times and considering that this is V’s blog, I probably should be a bit more considered. Anyway, just keep an open mind and an open ear. Take care.

By: OaklandSpaceAcademy

OaklandSpaceAcademy — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 20:13:29 +0000

Nav:

Most definitely. I’ll be looking for guest lecturers in the future. Just email me when you think you might have the time.

By: Max Allstadt

Max Allstadt — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 16:49:18 +0000

Nav,

I’m trying to type and play the world’s smallest violin at the same time… it’s kind of awkward.

To be fair, I have never been entirely dismissive of your claims of bias. It’s just the frequency that you make them that gets me. We had a really interesting offshoot conversation about neighborhood names and how crime reporting about Oakland doesn’t use those names often. You have some legitimate points. My sarcasm only really kicked in when I felt like you were overdoing it. I really would value it if you created a website which did A-B comparisons on local reporting. Or for that matter a watchdog site in general. It would be nice for people less connected than me to have somewhere to learn that Chris Thompson doesn’t live in the Bay Area, for example.

By: Oh Pleeze

Oh Pleeze — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 06:33:00 +0000

I take exception to cheapening Oakland’s riots as ‘unplanned’, or ‘[a] peaceful protest erupting into violence.’ The anger wasn’t spontaneous: It was planned, if not orchestrated. Photos show protesters carrying posters with incendiary, derogatory and hateful slogans against the police. These knuckleheads* took time to think up which hate slogans would hit a nerve, and then get them printed *well before* the protest started. Their slogans were intended to hurt and to incite anger, and they succeeded. These maleficent, self-centered brats twisted an honest display of grief, sympathy and support into their own self serving melee, and in doing so, betrayed Mr Grant’s family, the people who joined together to grieve with them, and the entire city of Oakland. Their acts are unforgivable.

* knucklehead: Thank you, spiritual monkey, for resurrecting that fine old noun!

By: Navigator

Navigator — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 05:12:39 +0000

OaklandSpaceAcademy, I would love to tell you, but I can’t on this site. Maybe at some point when I have more time, I’ll go on your site and document everything if you would allow me. Thanks.

By: Navigator

Navigator — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 05:09:00 +0000

Patrick, The intent of the officer will be better known once we get witness testimony of what was said prior to the shooting. This, combined with the video, and with the testimony regarding the officer’s general tone and behavior as he dealt with the developing situation, will make his mindset a bit more clear. This case can certainly still be tried as a second degree homicide case with a good chance of conviction. The mere fact that he pulled that weapon without an evident threat, pointed that weapon, and fired a shot at nearly point blank range into the back of a defenseless human being who was restrained, could lead any reasonable person to the conclusion that this may result in the death of that human being. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that the officer knew the extent of the damage his reckless use of that weapon would cause.

Also, the officer’s reaction right after the shooting could have been contrived as a reaction to the other officer’s reactions. I’m sorry, but the “oops” defense is not irrefutable.

By: Butch

Butch — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 05:01:52 +0000

Mayor Dellums is a Statesman in his own mind. He is Sad and Old. A feeble Has-Been that has no business trying to lead Oakland. My sadness is rooted in Oakland having a Really Poor Management Team. Drum the Limp Dxxxxs out. No Fuxxking courage in this bunch.