Activism

Though Thousands of Miles Away, Tyre Nichols’ Death Affected Oaklanders

Like many other cities nationwide, Oakland was heavily impacted by Tyre Nichols’ death on January 10 in Memphis, Tenn., three days after being brutally beaten by multiple police officers. The officers allegedly pulled Nichols over for reckless driving. What followed was revealed on January 27 when the footage of the body cameras that the officers were wearing was released.

Published

3 years ago

February 16, 2023

Oakland Post

George Galvis is the executive director of CURYJ, an Oakland nonprofit promoting youth leadership. Photo courtesy of George Galvin

By Daisha Williams
Post News Group Intern

Like many other cities nationwide, Oakland was heavily impacted by Tyre Nichols’ death on January 10 in Memphis, Tenn., three days after being brutally beaten by multiple police officers.

The officers allegedly pulled Nichols over for reckless driving. What followed was revealed on January 27 when the footage of the body cameras that the officers were wearing was released.

The officers first verbally degraded Nichols, who remained calm and respectful. The officers involved originally claimed that Nichols had attempted to run from them; the footage shows this to be false.

Five police officers were charged with Nichols’ murder on January 26. All five of those officers were Black men. One other officer was fired days later, and several more are under investigation.

The Memphis Fire Department also dismissed a lieutenant, and two Emergency Medical Technicians who had been at the scene lost their jobs for failure to administer aid to Nichols.

Oakland has always been an epicenter for social justice and advocacy.

George Galvis is the executive director and co-founder of CURYJ, pronounced “courage,” which stands for Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice.

In response to a question about how the Nichols case affects Oakland communities, he responded “I think it’s important to think that there are many Tyre Nichols’ and while in this particular moment there is righteous outrage, as there should be for the blatant and egregious murder of a young Black man for a fraudulent traffic stop, we have many, many cases here in the Bay Area that we perhaps have more agency over as Oaklanders.”

Galvis also talked about the reputation the Bay Area, and California as a whole has. Although it is liberal in comparison to other places, many people assume that oppression doesn’t exist here.

Nichols’ death reminds Oaklanders of its distant and recent history with police terror and brutality.

In 1966, the Black Panthers were founded here, and one of the main things they fought against was police brutality.

In 2009, Oscar Grant was shot by a BART officer at Fruitvale Station. A BART ride away, multiple San Francisco Police officers shot Mario Woods 41 times in 2015.

Police have killed 64 people in Oakland alone in the past decade, over 60% of those being Black people. (http://www.antievictionmappingproject.net/opd.html) Due to this there have been many events in Oakland in response to Nichol’s death.

On January 29, there was a protest in downtown Oakland organized by the Anti Police-Terror Project. On February 6, there was a rally at Oakland Technical High School led by Youth Vs Apocalypse and CURJ.

Other organizations in Oakland are doing similar things such as the Anti Police Terror Project (ATPT) and the Love Not Blood Campaign.

In an interview about legislation to make police accountable, Cephus “Uncle Bobby” Johnson, the director of the Love Not Blood Campaign, told California Black Media “What happened to Tyre impacted so many in California. It re-traumatized many of the families,” said Johnson. “Many families’ wounds have been reopened. Many families’ hopes that there has been some progress have been totally erased,” continued Johnson.

In hopes of preventing members of the community from hurting more than necessary, the Love Not Blood campaign sent out a letter when the footage of Nichols’ beating was released.

The letter said, “The video of Tyre Nichols is horrific so think in advance about how you may begin to feel, and your thoughts, and make sure that you honor those thoughts and take the steps to cope with the trauma.

“If you do decide to watch the video or consistently listen to the news of Tyre Nichols’ murder be sure to not be alone when watching or listening consistently.”

If you would like to be more involved in Oakland’s fight against police brutality, you can find more information on the websites of any of the organizations mentioned.

https://curyj.org/

https://lovenotbloodcampaign.com/

https://www.antipoliceterrorproject.org/

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‘Hire Oakland’ Job Fair Draws 2,000, Connecting Residents to Immediate Job Opportunities

Oakland’s Hire Oakland job fair, hosted by Mayor Barbara Lee’s office, connected over 2,000 job seekers with employers, highlighting a strong demand for quality jobs and career pathways in the city.

Published

2 hours ago

May 15, 2026

Oakland Post

Left to right: Yawo Tekpa, OPIC Manager, One Stop Operator; Sofia Navarro, Deputy City Administrator; and Ray Lankford, CEO of the Oakland Private Industry Council. Photo by Jonathan Fitness Jones.

By Post Staff

The Office of Mayor Barbara Lee, in partnership with the City of Oakland and regional employers, hosted a successful Hire Oakland job fair this week at Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, bringing together job seekers and employers for a day focused on opportunity, connection, and economic mobility.

With more than 2,000 RSVPs, the event on Wednesday reflected strong demand across Oakland for access to quality jobs and career pathways. Attendees participated in on-site recruitment, application support, and hands-on workshops designed to help job seekers navigate hiring processes and prepare for interviews.

Over the course of the day, employers and community partners engaged directly with residents in a welcoming, high-energy environment centered on opportunity and hope. Participating employers included EBMUD, Samuel Merritt University, the City of Oakland, BART, PG&E, AC Transit, East Bay Regional Parks District, Southwest Airlines, FedEx, and many others offering immediate openings and career pathways across sectors.

Workforce development partners Oakland Private Industry Council (OPIC) and Lao Family Community Development provided connections to résumé support, interview coaching, and individualized job search assistance throughout the event.

The strong turnout underscores a clear reality: Oakland residents are eager for pathways into meaningful work, and sustained investment in youth and workforce programs is essential.

That is why Mayor Lee has prioritized relaunching the Oakland Police Cadet Program and the Mayor’s Youth Employment and Education Program (MYEEP)—ensuring young people have early access to paid work experience, mentorship, and long-term career pathways, according to a City press statement.

“The turnout shows what we already know—Oaklanders are ready to work, ready to grow, and ready to build their futures here at home,” said Lee. “When we connect people directly to employers and invest in young people early, we are not just filling jobs—we are changing lives and strengthening our city’s future.”

The Hire Oakland job fair is part of the City’s broader effort to strengthen workforce pipelines, expand access to good-paying jobs, and ensure Oakland residents are first in line for local opportunity.

About Hire OaklandHire Oakland is a citywide workforce initiative led by the Office of Mayor Barbara Lee in partnership with City departments, workforce development organizations, and regional employers. The program connects Oakland job seekers to real-time hiring opportunities, training resources, and career pathways.

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Activism

Cassie ‘Mama C’ Lopez Honored as Oakland’s Mother of the Year

Cassandra “Mama C” Lopez, a dedicated parent, teacher, and activist, was honored as Oakland’s Mother of the Year for her unwavering commitment to community and justice.

Published

2 hours ago

May 15, 2026

Oakland Post

Cassandra Lopez, known as “Mama C,” is surrounded by family, friends, and neighbors at Oakland’s annual Mother of Year celebration at the Morcom Rose Garden, Saturday, May 9. Photo by Mateenah Floyd-Okanlawon.

By Ken Epstein

The City of Oakland recognized Cassandra, “Mama C,” Lopez – parent, teacher, community activist, and justice warrior – as Oakland’s Mother of the Year in a celebration at Oakland’s Morcom Rose Garden on Mother’s Day weekend.

Long recognized as a leader in her community, she was nominated by District 3 City Councilmember Carroll Fife to receive the city’s 73rd annual Mother of the Year award.

Speaking at the crowded ceremony on Saturday, May 9, where Mama C received roses and a proclamation from Mayor Barbara Lee, Fife said she felt honored to nominate Lopez, an “amazing woman – a hell-raising humanitarian, for the energy, the passion, but most of all the love for community” that makes her one of those “exceptional women whose lives, exemplify love, sacrifice, leadership, and unwavering commitment to the family and community they serve.”

Cassie Lopez was born in 1945 to Pauline and Calvin Weaver, a family that had left Florida and Jim Crow for the east side of Detroit. From an early age, she was instilled with a sense of Black awareness, love, and the importance of community in the face of hardships, including poverty, freezing winters, low pay, and slum landlords.

Fifty-five years ago, she married Juan Lopez. The couple has three children and has lived for decades in a neighborhood on the edge of downtown Oakland near Mosswood Park.

Said her husband, Juan, “Mama C has been a selfless mother of our own children, and she also became a teacher. Our home became a second home for many young people. For some, it was refuge from difficult home situations, and for others, a safe place to hang out.

“Throughout the years, Mama C was sometimes a foot soldier and other times a leader, immersed in some of the biggest national and citywide struggles of the day,” Juan said. “But less known to many is the role she played day in and day out where the rubber hits the road.

“For 35 years, she has shepherded the Mosswood Park and Recreation Center – through its good and bad times. If the Center exists (and thrives) today, it has to do with Mama C, working alongside neighbors, center directors, community advisory council, and when necessary, community coalitions, city officials, the religious community, and the labor movement.”

Said Mateenah Floyd-Okanlawon, “I am an old friend of my sister here. We met in 1970 in the sugarcane fields of Cuba, where we were helping the Cuban government harvest their sugar. We have been friends ever since. She has always been someone who does not give in to despair.”

David Johnson, an educator in Oakland, was one of the neighborhood children who grew up in the community created by Mama C and her family

“Cassandra Lopez is a beacon of light, full of compassion. She has dedicated her life to quality education to the poor and working class,” serving for 40 years as a Spanish teacher in Oakland schools, he said.

“She has dedicated her life to speak truth to power, justice to the silent, and as a member of the community, she advocates for programs and resources,” he said.

In her remarks, Mama C recognized the influence and power of all mothers. “Together, we all stand on the backs of our mothers. Mothers play a special role in society. We give when we have almost nothing left to give. We hurt when some people don’t see the hurt and the pain that our families endure. But we keep on moving forward.”

Looking at what African Americans, other people of color and working people face in the country today, she said, “We are deserving of the very best because our hands, our bodies produce the wealth of world, and yet we get the least. We see our country wholesale being stolen away from us, and we are told to grin and bear it. We’re not bearing it; we’re fighting against it.”

Continuing, she said, “There’s enough wealth in this world that there should be no hunger in the world. There should be nobody without a decent place to live. Nobody should be sleeping on the street. Teachers should get the freedom to be creative and tell the stories that exist in this nation that make us strong and great.

“We have a lot to do. We cannot despair. We cannot run. People are learning, and together, collectively, we can do it.”