News

Community Joins Hands and Prayers to Remember Nia Wilson

Published

8 years ago

July 27, 2018

By Lauren Richardson and James Burch

An Oakland #SayHerName vigil was called Monday, July 23, by the Community Ready Corps (CRC) and the Anti Police-Terror Project (APTP) to honor the life of Nia Wilson, the 18-year-old African-American woman who was murdered at the MacArthur Street BART station in Oakland Sunday.

More than 1,000 community members gathered at the vigil at the MacArthur BART station to demand justice for Nia Wilson. A gathering of flowers, stuffed animals, candles, posters and balloons remains erected in her memory at the station.The event page for the vigil read:

“Nia is the second Black woman brutally murdered in the Bay Area over the last couple of days. We are inviting community to come hold space, light a candle and be together in our collective grief. We also know that we are each other’s best defense…We stand in solidarity with and in support of Nia’s family. We know who we are as a City. Let’s stand together in our love for each other and protection of each other.”

Many expressed concern about how to remain safe, and many were concerned that the murder may have been racially motivated.

“Now, I know we don’t know what the motivation was, but I can’t ignore the fact that for a year, we have been fighting back white fascists and Nazis from coming into our town,” Cat Brooks said as she opened the vigil. “And I can’t ignore the fact that a Black child was murdered by a white man. I will not stop talking about what happens to Black female bodies in this city.”

Police identified and later arrested John Lee Cowell, a 27-year-old white male with a documented history of violence and mental illness, for the murder.

The assailant also stabbed Wilson’s sister Latifah, who survived the incident.

Wilson, the youngest of six sisters and two brothers, was an Oakland High School graduate. She had plans to become a lawyer or maybe pursue another criminal-justice-related career. She also loved makeup and fashion and one day hoped to have her own cosmetics line.

Wilson’s murder comes in the wake of the murder of Kishana Harley, a Black mother of four who was found dead in her Richmond apartment last Friday.

News spread quickly Sunday night of the fatal stabbing at the MacArthur BART Station. BART officials began investigating the incident but did not release detailed information about the suspect until 12:35 p.m., Monday afternoon, at the BART Police Headquarters.

At the press conference, BART Police Chief, Carlos Rojas informed the public that the suspect had been identified as 27-year-old John Lee Cowell, a transient man with a violent criminal record.

Although the surveillance video was not released, Rojas described a “Prison styled attack” that lead to the injury of 26-year-old Latifah Wilson and the fatal attack on Nia Wilson.

Surveillance video shows the suspect also boarded the same train on the same car as the sisters. Rojas said that Cowell was “not acting erratic or animated” before the attack and had not had any interaction with the young women prior to the incident.

As the young women transferred trains at the MacArthur street station, Cowell is seen attacking both of the sisters from behind. Nia Wilson succumbed to her injuries on the MacArthur Station platform. Latifah, who was also stabbed in the neck, was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.

Most of the riders on the train were unable to identify the suspect because the attack happened so fast. However, the video footage showed Cowell fleeing the scene through the BART parking lot where he changed clothes and discarded the weapon at a construction site before leaving BART premises.

After the release of the Cowell’s photo, a BART rider called in to report that the suspect was aboard a train leaving the Coliseum BART station. That train was intercepted at the MacArthur Street station, while protests were being held below, but Cowell escaped to another train.

Another tip was received from another BART rider led officers to Cowell on a train at the Pleasant Hill Station. Officers approached him and escorted him off of the train in an uneventful arrest.

Cowell, a felon with a violent record who was only released from prison four months ago, was scheduled to be arraigned at the Wiley M. Manuel Courthouse in Downtown Oakland on Wednesday, July 26. His arraignment on multiple charges was rescheduled for Aug. 22. He is represented by the public defender’s office.

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IN MEMORIAM: Longtime OUSD Employee Debra King-Cooper, 73

Longtime OUSD Employee Debra King-Cooper, 73 Caption: Debra King-Cooper. Courtesy photo. Special to The Post Debra King-Cooper, a beloved mother, grandmother, queen, sister, church member, caregiver, and matriarch, transitioned peacefully on May 20 surrounded by family and love i

Published

2 days ago

June 17, 2026

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Debra King-Cooper. Courtesy photo.

Special to The Post

Debra King-Cooper, a beloved mother, grandmother, queen, sister, church member, caregiver, and matriarch, transitioned peacefully on May 20 surrounded by family and love in the comfort of her home. To her children, she was royalty, grace, strength, and unconditional love embodied.

Debra Diane Edgar was born on May 28, 1952, in San Francisco, California, to Charles Edgar Sr. and Mamie Arthur Edgar. She was raised alongside her younger brother, Charles Edgar Jr., affectionately known as “Little Brother” or “Lil Bruh.” She also shared close bonds with her older siblings Carol Edgar-Lang, Maryann Edgar Calloway, and Lonnie Lewis Sr.

A proud product of San Francisco’s historic Fillmore District, Debra attended Andrew Jackson Elementary School, where she met her lifelong best friend and adopted sister, Lynn Green, in the fifth grade. She later attended Robert Louis Stevenson Elementary School, Roosevelt Junior High School and Thomas Jefferson High School.

Debra’s mother transitioned when she was only 17 years old, and her father transitioned when she was 23. Despite these profound losses, Debra remained grounded through the love and support of extended family and lifelong family friends,

In 1971, she married Harold King. On Sept. 24, 1972, they welcomed their first son, Dajuan Artese King, affectionately called “Pop” or “Poppa.” On Aug. 5, 1976, they welcomed their second son, Dante Dupree King, affectionately called “Tay” or “Taboocoo the Baby.”

After her divorce in 1982, Debra assumed full responsibility for raising her sons.

She supported Dajuan’s passion for football by purchasing sports equipment and attending games faithfully. She supported Dante’s love of music by enrolling him in the San Francisco Boys Choir, Oakland Boys Choir, and the Castlemont Castleers.

Professionally, Debra built an exceptional career. She worked at Blue Shield of California from 1973 until 1994, earning multiple promotions.

She later joined the Oakland Unified School District, initially in a temporary role before being promoted into management within the Labor Relations Department. She retired from OUSD in 2015 after years of distinguished service. During her years at OUSD, she built meaningful friendships with her colleagues.

Faith was central to Debra’s life. During the 1980s, following personal hardship, she joined Love Center Church under the leadership of Bishop Walter Hawkins, where she brought her children regularly. She later became a member of Triumphant: A Church Without Walls Ministries under Pastor Dr. Larry Short, who became a beloved spiritual mentor.

After Triumphant closed in 1992, Debra joined Cosmopolitan Baptist Church in Oakland under the leadership of Pastor Larry Ashley, where she remained for the rest of her life.

At Cosmopolitan, she worked in numerous ministries. She served on the usher board, sang in the choir, participated in the AIDS ministry during the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, helped feed and support unhoused community members, and mentored and supported a group of young girls.

After retirement, she cared for older adults in her church community, driving them to appointments, cleaning their homes, managing finances, preparing meals, and helping families navigate funeral arrangements after loved ones transitioned.

Even while battling Stage 4 cancer herself, she continued caring for others.

Debra was preceded in death by her parents, Charles Edgar Sr. and Mamie Arthur Edgar; her brothers, Lonnie Lewis Sr. and Charles Edgar Jr.; her sisters, Maryann Edgar Calloway and Victoria Stephenson Knight; and her adopted mother, Clara Oliver.

She leaves to cherish her memory her beloved sons, Dajuan King and Dante King; grandson, Tiyler Dajuan Artese King; sister, Carol Edgar-Lang; goddaughters Monique Belle and Ricketa Matthews Jones (Leonard); daughter-in-love Quiona Sullivan; son-in-love Marcel Walker; sister-in-law Delores Lewis; adopted sisters and lifelong friends Lynn Green, Barbara Stephenson Hill, and Sarah Fine; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, great-nieces, great-nephews, extended family members, her church family and dear friends.

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Celebrating Juneteenth – Frederick Douglass on education and resistance

This video from BlackPressUSATV explores the significance of Juneteenth, focusing on the enduring wisdom of Frederick Douglass. It delves into his powerful perspectives on the vital role of education as a tool for liberation and empowerment. Douglass’s words are presented as a cornerstone for understanding the ongoing struggle for equality and the importance of continuous […]
The post Celebrating Juneteenth – Frederick Douglass on education and resistance appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 days ago

June 16, 2026

Oakland Post

The content highlights how education and active resistance are intertwined, drawing parallels from historical movements to contemporary challenges. This exploration of Frederick Douglass’s teachings offers valuable insights into the spirit of Juneteenth and its relevance in today’s fight for justice and human rights.

The post Celebrating Juneteenth – Frederick Douglass on education and resistance appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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LIVE! — ASK ALMA! — TUES. 6.19.26 7PM EST

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3 days ago

June 16, 2026

Oakland Post

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