Activism

Organizers Demand Justice for Jalani Lovett, Protest Violence Across California

Terry Lovett, Jalani’s mother, has been fighting for a proper investigation into her son’s death for four years. She has repeatedly reached out to Bonta, asking him to act since the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD) refuses to investigate itself. Organizers say that, despite his campaign promises to step up investigation of in-custody deaths, Bonta has refused to take any action on Jalani Lovett’s case.

Published

1 year ago

August 25, 2025

Oakland Post

Outside Attorney General Rob Bonta's office, Kathryn Wade of Antioch, Malad Baldwin's mother, Jalani Lovett’s sister, Yvette Martin, Jalani Lovett’s mother, activist Terry Lovett, and an unnamed supporter protest violence across California and demand justice for Jalani Lovett. Photo courtesy of Carla Thomas.

By Carla Thomas

On Aug. 19, families impacted by police violence and organizations from several cities across California rallied in front of the Attorney General’s offices to protest Rob Bonta’s failure to investigate the murder of Jalani Lovett.

Born and raised in Oakland, Lovett was arrested in 2019 and died in 2021 after being held in Los Angeles Men’s Central Jail.

He was in the custody of the notorious 3000 Boys sheriff’s gang, a group linked to the deaths of many other inmates. And while his body showed signs of severe physical trauma, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department labeled Lovett’s death as a drug overdose, although he no access to drugs while in solitary confinement.

Terry Lovett, along with a coalition of police-accountability organizations, families impacted by police violence, trade unions, and concerned community members that support her, organized the state-wide day of action. The organizers rallied in front of Bonta’s offices in San Diego and Los Angeles, and delivered a scroll of over 1,200 signatures of Californians who demand transparency to the office in downtown Oakland.

Lin, an organizer for Oakland Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (OAARPR), said the demands include that Bonta hold a meeting with Terry Lovett to discuss her findings from her own investigation into Jalani’s death, the removal of all security holds on Jalani’s records, and access to all reports and records involving Jalani’s death.

“Jail isn’t supposed to be a death sentence,” said Terry Lovett about her son. “Just because he was in jail doesn’t mean you had the right to take his life. You are still supposed to have rights in prison, and the Attorney General’s job is to protect those rights.”

She added that Californians can’t afford to ignore this violation of her son’s rights. “An injury to one is an injury to all.”

Lovett emphasized that this fight isn’t just about her son, but part of a broader fight against the terrible violence experienced by California prisoners. “California prisoners have the highest rate of in-custody deaths in the country, with a staggering 120 deaths listed as ‘unnatural causes’ in 2025 alone,” said Lovett. Anyone can end up in prison like her son, Lovett said, and that all Californians have reason to be worried about the issue. Jelani’s sister, Yvette Martin, was also present.

Terry Lovett is supported by ILWU Locals 10 and 34, OAARPR, Dignity & Power Now, The Racial Justice Coalition of San Diego, Open Police Archives and Oakland Jericho, and BART workers from the ATU Local 1555.

Many families that have lost a loved one to police violence from around the Bay Area attended the rally, including Kathryn Wade, and Denise Friday, among others.

Kathryn Wade, the mother of Malad Baldwin, who was beaten by law enforcement in Antioch, cried as she explained the harassment and beatings of her son at the hands of law enforcement. “We need justice for everyone” she said with her grandson, Sirlod, age 8. “My grandson has no father because of the racism and harassment in these systems. Justice for Jelani.”

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Activism

Oakland Post: Week of September 9 – 15, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of September 9 – 15, 2026

Published

4 days ago

September 14, 2026

Oakland Post

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Oakland Post: Week of September 2 – 8, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of September 2 – 8, 2026

Published

2 weeks ago

September 7, 2026

Oakland Post

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Activism

Youth-Led Black August Event Brings Past to Present at East Oakland Boxing Association

The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.”

Published

3 weeks ago

August 29, 2026

Post News Group

Dawna Williams, EOBA executive director speaks to attendees at the Black August Eperience on Aug. 21. Photo courtesy of Carolyn Flynn of EOBA.

By Jana Lang Propel Youth Reporter

Youth-Led Black August Event Brings Past to Present at East Oakland Boxing Association

The East Oakland Boxing Association (EOBA) and Youth Alive! came together on Aug. 21 to share with their community all that Black August means to them.

Held on EOBA’s patio at 816 98th Ave. in Deep East Oakland, the two organizations hosted their second annual Black August Experience, featuring a food tasting, financial literacy and mindfulness workshops, and voter registration with the League of Women Voters Oakland (LWV).

Black August is known as a time to uphold the legacy of prisoners who protested their conditions by fasting, fighting, and educating themselves on the economic and political circumstances that contributed to their incarceration.

According to its website, “EOBA is a multi-service youth and community development hub that goes far beyond the ring. While rooted in the discipline of boxing, for nearly 40 years EOBA has also integrated robust programs in workforce development, food justice, afterschool enrichment, financial literacy, mentorship, and wellness.”.

The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.”

Through Coro California, another leadership organization serving young people across the state for 80 years, they gained a broader understanding of Black August.

EOBA Executive Director Dawna Williams spoke about how much she learned about Black August from the youth who created it. “I let them educate me,” she said. Instead of talking about prison reform and mass incarceration, Williams and youth interns found that Black August meant so much more. “We would have done a disservice if we had just focused on who the people were and what their situation was…We tried to take their message from back in the day and make it relevant to the young people today. What do they need to know?”

Youth interns created and placed posters around the patio to help participants understand how traditional Black foodways, civic engagement, financial literacy, and the power of education are relevant to Black resistance today.

An EOBA member described Black August with Youth ALIVE! as “a whole vibe. “This year we added the Fun Zone for the kids, because you really cannot go wrong with a Fun Zone. I also loved seeing everyone chillin’ in the outdoor lounge, catching some Vitamin D and just enjoying a Friday evening together.”

The food tasting, a popular event from last year, featured traditional Black foods such as black-eyed peas, johnny cakes, and fried chicken. Led by Williams, the tasting included a talk about how these traditional foods were made and why they are forms of Black resilience.

The “‘Plate of History’ was a favorite of the online writers. “Fun, educational, and did I mention delicious? Our Taste of History cook, Angela Southall, served up some good eats while connecting food to history and culture.”

The writer also commended the “League of Women Voters Oakland for their civic leadership and for getting our young people informed, ready, and registered to vote.”

Overall, it was a “good Friday event in East Oakland,” the writer said.

Upcoming Black August events: Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS), will host “Black August: The Arc of Liberation” at Oakland City Hall on Sat. Aug. 29, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The websites for East Oakland Boxing Association, Youth Alive! and CORO are sources for this report.

Jana Lang is an Oakland resident, teacher, gardener and poet participating in the Propel News Initiative.