Reactions to the shooting death of unarmed Oscar Grant by BART police Officer Johannes Mehserle have ranged from sad “not again”, to anger in the streets of Oakland.

Mayor Ron Dellums stood before a fuming crowd on the steps of City Hall on Wednesday night trying to restore calm after angry protesters rampaged through the streets of downtown Oakland creating a surreal near-riot that lasted several hours. ‘Number one let s deal with each other with respect ‘ Dellums told the crowd over a bullhorn.

It’s hard to ask people to be respectful when your community has continuously been disrespected, when the lives of people are disrespected over and over again, and people are asked to trust in a system that fails them over and over, leaving nothing but funerals. I think it’s too easy to ask for peaceful reactions from Gaza to Oakland when it is not your life, the lives of your children, husband, partner, friend deemed less valuable. There is a reason for no justice no peace besides a really cool sounding chant.

I’m really angry, not just at the initial incident, pero at the mainstream media who is blaming You Tube and the videos of the shooting death for the strong reaction instead of placing the blame where it belongs. I am also surprised and bothered by some of the reactions to the disturbances in the blogosphere: the tsk tsking at people’s expressing their anger at a situation that seems to repeat itself over and over without resolution. Let’s put this in perspective. Some of the protesters are being charged with felonies while the BART police Officer Johannes Mehserle, who has since resigned, only to avoid answering questions, has not been charged. That makes me want to burn some things too.

Edited to add: Reading more reports of the disturbances, I would say that attacking our own businesses, however, is not a smart way to protest because that only serves the interests of the powers that be. We do however need to support those who have been arrested:

Arrestee Support Friday, January 9th: 9am and 2pm |
Call the National Lawyer’s Guild at (415) 285-1011 to report arrests and instances of police brutality. Oakland police are reporting that they arrested 105 people for a variety of offenses. Many have been released but some are still being held at Santa Rita jail or the Glenn Dyer County Jail.

Since people want “peaceful” solutions: What can you do about the Oscar Grant shooting?

1. Digg the story so that the national media can pick up on it

2. Contact BART Director Carole Ward Allen and demand that 1) the officers involved be taken off duty without pay and charged and fully prosecuted; 2) there be an independent investigation of the shooting that includes a review of training and hiring practices; and 3) BART establish an independent residents’ review board for the police Call her at 510-464-6095 or email the BART Directors at BoardofDirectors@bart.gov

3. Call the BART police to complain about the officers’ conduct and demand immediate action: Internal Affairs: Sergeant David Chlebowski 510.464.7029,dchlebo@bart.gov; Chief of Police: Gary Gee 510.464.7022, ggee@bart.gov

Call them toll free at 877.679.7000 and press the last four digits of the phone number you wish to reach.

4. Talk it up on your blogs, networks and talk radio shows (call Michael Baisden 877-6BADBOY or Rev. Al, etc. to get this on the national radar)

5. Stay tuned for other actions, protests, etc., especially if you are in the Bay.

Via / Intelligent Aboriginal News Service , Race Wire