Activism
Three days of protest spark mixed reactions — Oaklanders question who is behind the destruction.
Thousands of people took to the Oakland streets May 29 for what was at first a peaceful protest against the death of George Floyd, who died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nine minutes.
After nightfall, a crowd attempted to gain access to the 880 freeway, throwing water bottles at police officers and launching a flare that started a small grass fire. Others headed towards the Oakland Police Department (OPD) building on Broadway and took a knee as they were met with a line of police officers.
OPD swiftly deemed the protest an “unlawful gathering” and allowed three minutes for protesters to disperse before launching tear-gas, and later rubber bullets.
Meanwhile, several small groups split off and proceeded to break the windows of Chase, Wells Fargo and other businesses. Trash cans were dragged into the streets and some were set ablaze.
By 11 p.m. Twitter was filled with videos of looting and fires in the Downtown Oakland area. Walgreens on Broadway was looted and there were reports of a small fire inside. CVS on Broadway was also looted, and the city center Starbucks was set on fire.
A Honda CR-V was driven off the Honda of Oakland showroom in front of a large crowd, and the brand new Target on Broadway was smashed up, looted, and is now to be closed indefinitely.
Last night they were just driving out cars out the showroom out of Honda in Oakland. America be entertaining #ICantBreathe #anonymus #RIPGeorgeFloyd pic.twitter.com/73TJaxkOPx
— 𝕁𝕖𝕣𝕖𝕞𝕪 𝕄𝕠𝕣𝕖 (@Jeremy_More) June 1, 2020
Later that night, two federal officers were shot on guard at the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building at 1301 Clay St. One of them, Dave Patrick Underwood, succumbed to his injuries and died.
The shooting was called an “an act of domestic terrorism,” by Department of Homeland Security Acting Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli at a Washington, D.C., news conference. But on Saturday California Gov. Gavin Newsom warned that the shooting should not be quickly associated with the acts of peaceful protesters. “No one should rush to conflate this heinous act with the protests last night,” he said.
On Twitter, some were outraged at the looting and highlighted that the protests were mostly peaceful. A Chamber of Commerce representative said Saturday that “a small band of well-mobilized vandals” had once again targeted the city’s merchants and most vulnerable people.
“We will not let out-of-town individuals undermine this legitimate protest and destroy our local economy,” said Barbara Leslie, President, and CEO of the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.
More of what happened at the start of the looting in Oakland last night. I was there throughout the night, same narrative, white people inciting the violence and break-ins. They did not come here to protest, they did not come here for us. #OaklandProtest #GeorgeFloyd #BLM pic.twitter.com/wuXSOmF3gj
— peanut butter cup (@deshawnieboy) May 30, 2020
Most businesses targeted were corporate, but some black-owned and smaller businesses were targeted as well, including Queen Hippe Gypsy, a small shop owned by Lillianna Ayers — a black woman, which only solidified claims that some of the rioters were not aligned with the protesters.
The looting continued throughout the weekend in Downtown Oakland, Emeryville and the Fruitvale area, leading local officials to impose an 8 p.m. curfew. Several peaceful daytime protests also occurred, including a caravan of over 1,000 cars around Lake Merritt, and a march beginning at Okland Tech and ending at the Oakland Police Department on Monday.
View our May 29 Photo Gallery:
https://twitter.com/daviddebolt/status/1266597457267326977?s=20
https://twitter.com/tariqnasheed/status/1266645980549611521?s=20
https://twitter.com/daviddebolt/status/1266623435884486662?s=20
https://twitter.com/Liam_ODonoghue/status/1266598909318541313?s=20
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024
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Activism
Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 2024
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 2024
To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.
Activism
Oakland Schools Honor Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties
Every Jan. 30, OUSD commemorates the legacy of Fred Korematsu, an Oakland native, a Castlemont High School graduate, and a national symbol of resistance, resilience, and justice. His defiant stand against racial injustice and his unwavering commitment to civil rights continue to inspire the local community and the nation. Tuesday was “Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution” in the state of California and a growing number of states across the country.
By Post Staff
Every Jan. 30, OUSD commemorates the legacy of Fred Korematsu, an Oakland native, a Castlemont High School graduate, and a national symbol of resistance, resilience, and justice.
His defiant stand against racial injustice and his unwavering commitment to civil rights continue to inspire the local community and the nation. Tuesday was “Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution” in the state of California and a growing number of states across the country.
One OUSD school is named in his honor: Fred T. Korematsu Discovery Academy (KDA) elementary in East Oakland.
Several years ago, founding KDA Principal Charles Wilson, in a video interview with anti-hate organization “Not In Our Town,” said, “We chose the name Fred Korematsu because we really felt like the attributes that he showed in his work are things that the children need to learn … that common people can stand up and make differences in a large number of people’s lives.”
Fred Korematsu was born in Oakland on Jan. 30, 1919. His parents ran a floral nursery business, and his upbringing in Oakland shaped his worldview. His belief in the importance of standing up for your rights and the rights of others, regardless of race or background, was the foundation for his activism against racial prejudice and for the rights of Japanese Americans during World War II.
At the start of the war, Korematsu was turned away from enlisting in the National Guard and the Coast Guard because of his race. He trained as a welder, working at the docks in Oakland, but was fired after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. Fear and prejudice led to federal Executive Order 9066, which forced more than 120,000 Japanese Americans out of their homes and neighborhoods and into remote internment camps.
The 23-year-old Korematsu resisted the order. He underwent cosmetic surgery and assumed a false identity, choosing freedom over unjust imprisonment. His later arrest and conviction sparked a legal battle that would challenge the foundation of civil liberties in America.
Korematsu’s fight culminated in the Supreme Court’s initial ruling against him in 1944. He spent years in a Utah internment camp with his family, followed by time living in Salt Lake City where he was dogged by racism.
In 1976, President Gerald Ford overturned Executive Order 9066. Seven years later, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco vacated Korematsu’s conviction. He said in court, “I would like to see the government admit that they were wrong and do something about it so this will never happen again to any American citizen of any race, creed, or color.”
Korematsu’s dedication and determination established him as a national icon of civil rights and social justice. He advocated for justice with Rosa Parks. In 1998, President Bill Clinton gave him the Presidential Medal of Freedom saying, “In the long history of our country’s constant search for justice, some names of ordinary citizens stand for millions of souls … To that distinguished list, today we add the name of Fred Korematsu.”
After Sept. 11, 2001, Korematsu spoke out against hatred and discrimination, saying what happened to Japanese Americans should not happen to people of Middle Eastern descent.
Korematsu’s roots in Oakland and his education in OUSD are a source of great pride for the city, according to the school district. His most famous quote, which is on the Korematsu elementary school mural, is as relevant now as ever, “If you have the feeling that something is wrong, don’t be afraid to speak up.”
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