Activism

IN MEMORIAM: First Annual Oscar Grant Day Celebrated with Inspirational Speeches, Powerful Performances

“Riding the BART shouldn’t be a death sentence,” said Elaine Brown, former Black Panther Party chairwoman. “Oscar tried to defuse a fight on the train and his good deed became a death sentence. The only person trying to deescalate anything that day was Oscar – and he was killed for it.”

Published

4 years ago

March 6, 2022

Oakland Post

Civil rights attorney Pamela Price stands with Rev. Wanda Johnson, mother of Oscar Grant. Johnson vowed to make this first rally for Oscar Grant an annual event on Oscar’s birthday, February 27, every year.

By Post Staff

On an overcast day with moments of sunlight, family members and supporters of the late Oscar Grant III gathered in front of Oakland City Hall on Saturday, February 26 to celebrate his life and legacy.

Grant was shot at the Fruitvale Station platform on Jan. 1, 2009, by BART officer Johannes Mehserle, while being held down by BART Officer Anthony Pirone.

Grant, who had been on his way home from a New Year’s Eve celebration in San Francisco, was pronounced dead several hours later at Highland Hospital.

After Community outcry, Mehserle was charged with second-degree murder but was only convicted of involuntary manslaughter. He is the only officer ever to be convicted by Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley.

O’Malley, who was a common reference of the speakers at the rally, has only charged one police officer in an officer-involved death. Currently, the 2021 death of Mario Gonzalez in the City of Alameda and the recent police killing of Cody Chavez after a standoff in Pleasanton on February 18 are still being considered for charges.

Mehserle served less about a year in a private cell in a Los Angeles County prison.

As dozens spoke at the rally, they pointed out that Grant’s death has been the catalyst for many police reforms in Alameda County. Grant’s “Uncle Bobby” Cephus Johnson said that his nephew’s death led to such changes in policing as body cameras and police oversight commissions.

“All roads lead to one justice,” said Johnson. “We have been seeking justice for 13 years and we haven’t gotten there yet.”

Oakland City Councilmember Treva Reid, who represents District 7, sent staff to read the City Council proclamation calling Sunday, the 27 of February – Oscar Grant Day – the same day he would have turned 36 this year.

The rally, sponsored by the Oscar Grant Foundation, had food give-away stations and school supplies in backpacks for children. Dancers and singers brought cheers from the crowd on the Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, which is sometimes referred to as Oscar Grant Plaza.

A bouncy house in the grassy area vibrated with children jumping while speaker after speaker before City Hall called for reform and real justice for Grant’s family. Local religious leaders, community organizers and people seeking elected offices spoke about Grant’s legacy.

Former Black Panther Party Chairwoman Elaine Brown urged the audience to remember that justice has still not been found for Oscar Grant’s family. Brown focused her passionate speech on how the second officer involved in Grant’s death has never been charged.

Elaine Brown, former Black Panther Party chairwoman, gave an impassioned speech at the top of the rally about justice still being denied. She urged the audience to remember that Anthony Pirone was never charged or convicted in Grant’s death.

“Riding the BART shouldn’t be a death sentence,” said Brown. “Oscar tried to defuse a fight on the train and his good deed became a death sentence. The only person trying to deescalate anything that day was Oscar – and he was killed for it.”

The stage was also filled with some of the candidates vying to replace Nancy O’Malley as the next district attorney of Alameda County in the June 7 primary election.

Councilmember Dan Kalb’s chief of staff, Seth Seward, was seen in the audience while current Deputy D.A. Jimmie Wilson and civil rights attorney Pamela Price took the stage to talk about justice reform. O’Malley’s endorsed candidate Assistant D.A. Terry Wiley was not present.

Civil rights attorney Pamela Price led the crowd cheering as she talked about the changes needed in the justice system. Price is also a candidate to replace the current Alameda County district attorney in the June 7 primary election.

Price gave a fiery speech on the needed reforms of the D.A.’s office. Price called out how the D.A.’s office has been toying with the Grant family’s emotions as they seek justice when O’Malley announced an investigation into charging Pirone last year, only to announce months later that no charges would be filed.

Price noted that the original prosecution of the case was “flawed because the D.A.’s heart was not in it,” just as the prosecution of the Oakland ‘Riders’ failed “because the D.A.’s heart was not in it.”

Other speakers included District 6 City Councilmember Loren Taylor who is currently running for Oakland Mayor, rapper and community organizer Mistah F.A.B. and Anti-Police Terror Project Executive Director Cat Brooks.

Rev. Wanda Johnson, Grant’s mother, thanked everyone for coming to this first annual day to celebrate her son’s life and the positive reforms because of this unjust death. She stated that this fight will continue as a “legacy of love, a legacy of hope and a legacy of peace.”

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Agricultural Engineer Effie Gant Plans Bay Area Farmers Market Initiative

Published

1 week ago

July 18, 2026

bpusa-syndication

Agricultural Engineer Effie Gant displays watermelons from her Sacramento farm at the Temescal Festival in Oakland. Photo by Carla Thomas.

In her 80s and still actively working as an agricultural engineer, Effie Gant continues to break barriers in urban farming and community leadership.

The certified USDA grower and respected urban farmer, based in South Sacramento, was recently spotted vending at the Freedom Farmers’ Market by the Temescal Street Fair on Saturday, July 11, where she proudly displayed dozens of sweet, juicy watermelons.

Festivalgoers gathered not only to purchase her produce but also to enjoy activities like the popular watermelon-eating contest. Yet beyond the festive atmosphere, Gant has a larger vision.

Gant is now setting her sights on the Bay Area, where she plans to launch a farmers’ market to increase access to fresh, locally grown food.

Known for her leadership in sustainable agriculture and food justice, she brings decades of hands-on experience and community advocacy to regions where food access remains inconsistent.

She has built a strong reputation through her work with Meadowview Urban Farm and the Yisrael Family Urban Farm, cultivating crops such as watermelons, honeydew melons, and collard greens. Her approach emphasizes sustainability, education, and empowering residents to grow their own food, even in small urban spaces.

As a USDA-certified grower, Gant blends technical expertise with grassroots engagement to combat food insecurity.

Beyond farming, Gant serves as CEO and President of Highways to Hedges, a nonprofit focused on environmental justice and community development. She is also president of the Hampton Station Neighborhood Association and board chairman for HHCORE, where she advocates for safety, equity, and economic opportunity.

Her proposed farmers market will connect small-scale farmers with urban communities while elevating Black farmers and other underrepresented growers.

“I want to teach the next generation about farming and how lucrative it can be,” Gant said. “You don’t need hundreds of acres. You can start with one acre or even your backyard.”Gant also noted her involvement in a collective of farmers who supply produce through government-supported programs.

“We operate as a team, and we all benefit,” she said.

Through workshops, speaking engagements, and hands-on training, Gant and her organization continue to educate communities about agriculture and food justice. Her market initiative will emphasize affordability, cultural relevance, and nutrition education.

Her broader work includes creating edible forests in partnership with Soil Born Farms, planting fruit trees directly in neighborhoods to expand food access. As a mentor with the Center of Expertise on Food Justice and Health Equity, Gant remains a leading voice in building sustainable and resilient food systems.

Gant says she welcomes the community to join her in creating a new farmer’s market.

“Farming is essential to life,” she said. “I want to train as many people as I can to use food and farming as a tool for empowerment, health, and long-term change.”

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Oakland Post: Week of July 15 – 21, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of July 15 – 21, 2026

Published

1 week ago

July 18, 2026

Oakland Post

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From Disparity Study to Solutions: Oakland Coalition and Mayor Barbara Lee Renew Commitment to Reform City Contracting

She committed to ensuring the coalition has direct access to City leadership by designating Assistant Deputy City Administrator Chuck Baker the primary liaison. Working alongside Deputy City Administrator Sofia Navarro, DWES Director Emylene Aspilla, Race and Equity Director Darlene Flynn, and other City departments, the coalition will continue advancing these priorities while maintaining regular communication with City leadership.

Published

2 weeks ago

July 15, 2026

Oakland Post

Present at the recent meeting on implementing recommendations on Oakland’s Disparity Study on city work contracts were (first row, l. to r.): Chuck Baker, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee and Darlene Flynn. Second row, l. to r.) Samuel Adams, Erica Astrella, Chadwick Spell, Cathy Adams, Stanley Cooper, Maria Wagner, Len Turner, Derek Barnes, Paul Cobb. Photo courtesy of Oakland Mayor’s Office.

Special to The Post

On June 30, a coalition of minority business leaders, contractors and others met with Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee to discuss the City’s commitment to implement recommendations outlined in Oakland’s Disparity Study and eliminate barriers that have historically prevented Black and minority-owned businesses from fully participating in public contracting opportunities.

Representatives of the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce (OAACC), National Association of Minority Contractors Northern California (NAMC NorCal), Construction Resource Center (CRC), and the East Bay Rental Housing Association (EBRHA) said the meeting represented an important milestone in a process that has been underway for several months.

On April 21, the Oakland City Council’s Life Enrichment Committee received a progress report from the Department of Workplace and Employment Standards (DWES), where Director Emylene Aspilla presented the coalition’s working document and outlined a collaborative implementation plan between the coalition and the City. That report established 30-, 60-, and 90-day objectives focused on five key priorities:

Reforming Local and Small Local Business Enterprise (L/SLBE) waiver practices
Strengthening prompt payment compliance
Improving procurement forecasting and transparency
Expanding contractor capacity building and business development
Increasing oversight, accountability, and public reporting

A series of working sessions was scheduled between coalition representatives, DWES, and the City Administrator’s Office to begin implementing those priorities but were temporarily delayed by the resignation of former City Administrator Jestin Johnson.

Rather than allowing that momentum to stall, OAACC President and CEO Cathy Adams requested a meeting with Lee to gain clarity on the City’s direction and reaffirm its commitment to implementing the recommendations contained within the Disparity Study.

Coalition leaders described the meeting as productive, candid, collaborative, and encouraging.

During the meeting, Lee spoke not only from her role as mayor but also from her experience as an 8(a) contractor and business owner, sharing that she understands firsthand what it takes to build and grow a successful company, employ a substantial workforce, compete for public work, and navigate the complexities of municipal contracting.

Mayor Lee also expressed her commitment to personally participate in future working meetings with the coalition.

“This meeting represents a renewed commitment to partnership,” said Adams. “Mayor Lee listened, engaged, and demonstrated that she wants to move beyond conversation and into implementation.”

CRC’s Len Turner said the roadmap is already in place. ““The City already has the evidence. What’s been missing is execution. …Now it’s time to deliver results.”

Mario Wagner, president of NAMC NorCal agreed that the next phase must focus on implementation, funding, and accountability.

“The coalition is ready to get to work. …The next step is ensuring these initiatives receive meaningful funding in the upcoming fiscal budget cycle. Just as important, the City must establish transparent reporting mechanisms that keep the public informed through regular progress reports, measurable benchmarks, and accountability.”

Coalition leaders also acknowledged that while City leadership has indicated it is reviewing Local and Small Local Business Enterprise waiver practices, the community continues to seek a formal response regarding existing long-term waivers, including waivers extending 10 and 25 years. The coalition believes those waivers should be comprehensively reviewed and, where appropriate, rolled back as part of the City’s broader contracting reforms.

The coalition is also calling on the City to include meaningful funding in the upcoming fiscal budget cycle to support implementation of the Disparity Study recommendations and establish better methods and mechanisms to keep the public informed through regular progress reports, measurable benchmarks, and transparent accountability.

The coalition’s immediate next step is to schedule a working meeting with Baker, Aspilla, Lee, and the appropriate City staff to review what has already been accomplished under the implementation framework.