Police Swarm Subway After Protests Over Shooting Turn Violent (VIDEO)

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO OF PROTESTS

OAKLAND, Calif. — Heavy police presence greeted Bay Area Rapid Transit commuters Thursday, a day after more than 100 people were arrested in violent protests over the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man by a transit police officer. At least three cars were set on fire, store windows were smashed and a police cruiser was vandalized in what started as a peaceful demonstration Wednesday over the Jan. 1 shooting of Oscar Grant. Police in riot gear threw tear gas to try to break up the demonstration.

"The crowd started to become more agitated, more hostile, started throwing stuff at the police," said Oakland Police spokesman Jeff Thomason. He said charges against those arrested include inciting a riot, assault on a police officer, vandalism, rioting and unlawful assembly.

Extra police were deployed to East Bay stations on Thursday. Officers patrolled BART headquarters to ensure calm during the agency's morning meeting, where many African-American community leaders expressed outrage over the killing of Grant.

An officer identified as Johannes Mehserle shot the 22-year-old on a BART station platform after responding to reports of men fighting on a train. Officers had pulled Grant and a few other men out of the train. The victim was lying face down on the platform when he was shot.

The shooting and events leading up to it were captured on amateur videos that have been broadcast on television.

Mehserle resigned from the transit agency shortly before he was supposed to be interviewed by investigators Wednesday. Mehserle's attorney did not respond to calls for comment.

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Some experts who viewed the video clips speculated that Mehserle fired his gun because he believed Grant had a deadly weapon, while others think the officer had mistakenly his handgun for a stun gun.

"If he was under stress he would not be able to distinguish between a Taser and his firearm," said Bruce Siddle, founder of PPCT Management Systems, an Illinois company that trains law-enforcement officers in use-of-force.

BART police and the district attorney are investigating the shooting, and Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums asked city police to investigate as well.

Grant's family has filed a $25 million wrongful death claim against BART and want prosecutors to file criminal charges against Mehserle.

"There were racial slurs directed at the young men," family attorney John Burris said Thursday. "But I have no evidence that this particular officer (Mehserle) directed racial slurs towards Oscar Grant."

Police have not classified the confrontation as a hate crime.

During the protest, some people threw bottles; a window of a fast-food restaurant and other downtown stores were smashed. No injuries were reported.

"We gave a dispersal order four to five times over a 20-minute period, then we had our officers go in and start making arrests," said Thomason, the police spokesman.

Dellums went to the protest scene Wednesday night to call for calm. He then led a group toward City Hall and spoke with them.

"Even with our anger and our pain, let's still address each other with a degree of civility and calmness and not make this tragedy an excuse to engage in violence," said Dellums, who is black. "I don't want anybody hurt, I don't want anybody killed."

Comments

[Poboy]

This kind of crap happens all over the country. If you listen to Black radio, you would hear cries from Black people all over this country, where this country turns a deaf ear. Why?

People like Rev. Sharpton are in the forefront, and this country attacks them.

Q. What is a Black man's life worth?

[urnumbersix]

Unfortunately - the "silence you hear" means = nothing. STILL!
White people must speak out!!

[SinisterK9]

I guess you could say it's worth enough to be President of the United States.

[vbrans]

While black people suffer this travesty in far greater numbers its not only about race.It is about the militarization of the police and authority run amok.

[myfatherschild]

your argument doesn't make sense. you readily admit that this type of thing happens mostly to people of color, but it is not about race?

[baptox]

What is a black man's life worth? Not much, apparently, if you ask any of the blacks who regularly kill their black brothers in gang-related crimes.

I am not defending what happened to Oscar Grant. He did not deserve to be tasered, much less shot and killed. It truly saddens me. But where are the riots and angry voices when a person of color takes the life of another poc?

We would not be discussing this if he had been a crime victim and his perpetrator had been black, would we? And yet statistically, young black males are about a tousand times more likely to die at the hands of another young black male, than by a white police officer. Let's get some perspective here.

[GreatFutureForAll]

The reason why it's not the same is because cops are entrusted with PROTECTING the general public. That is why they are allowed to carry any of a variety of deadly guns and other weapons. So (unlike criminals), when police screw up or get pissed off or angry at a suspect, there is absolutely no one to stop them or even try to stop them.

Who do you call when the police are out of control? Scotland Yard?

I don't pay for any random male (black or white) to carry a gun everywhere he (or she) goes. I DO pay the cop's salary. If a random male loses control like this BART cop did (OR makes a mistake and shoots someone dead by mistake), I can call the police and have that man arrested...IMMEDIATELY.

"BART-MAN" remains at large. Strangely (incredibly), he may very well be a danger to himself because he is not behind bars!

I deserve better than to have some idiot not be able to tell the difference between a taser and a gun! I certainly deserve better than to have my tax dollars lead to the death of someone that was (figuratively) cowering in a corner, trying his very best not to be harmed!

What bothers me the most is that the other cops would have never come forward with any of this without the videotape and pictures.

These are the guys we should trust to uphold the law? - I don't think so!

[Forester]

This is in my neck of the woods. The vid seems to support the theory that the recently hired transit policeman mistook his sidearm for his Taser, and it discharged into the back of the victim. The mayor, BART and OPD handled the response badly, and allowed the rage to build without making adequate assurances that the shooter was being interviewed and processed. In fact, he resigned from BART and skipped his interview, which sent the crowd off after the funeral. The mayor is too old and out of touch to make any difference, and the vacume in leadership resulted in the rioting and police action. Another high profile criminal investigation concerning the murder of reporter Chauncy Baily has been tainted as well, and the mayor has remained mute on this outrage as well. Oakland is on the skids, and the leadership is a big part of it.

[Eres]

After watching the video, IMO, the use of a Taser would have also been inappropriate. The victim does not appear to be violently resisting arrest, but reacting in panic as anyone would due to the extreme aggression by the police. Who wouldn't squirm in fear if they had two officers restraining their arms and one on their back?

Once again, racist police officers who believe that they themselves are above the law and above observing the basic principals of respect.

[MoeB]

We agree 100%. The sad thing is, his squirming around will probably be considered "resisting arrest". Apparently you must by lying completely motionless in order for it not to be resisting. Nevermind that knee on the back of your head...or the guy grabbing and twisting your arms while you are face-down on the ground. Nope, you move, you're resisting...also, nevermind the video where the guy is CLEARLY throwing his hands up in surrender. Or the many witnesses that stated that he (Oscar) was pleading with the cops not to taser him because he had a 4 year old.

[PixieThis]

It didn't fall under the OPD's jurisdiction OR the mayor's (I'm a LONG time Oakland resident), but it's an extraordinary thing that in the interest of helping resolve this issue peacefully AND with the rule of law, that Mayor Dellums asked the OPD to investigate this crime.

Please don't post mis-information about the status of the situation. The BART police is different from the Oakland, San Francisco, Hayward, etc Police departments in the same way that the police have different jurisdiction than the Highway Patrol. Ignorance of the situation isn't going to help with resolving or the impression of Oakland.

[PixieThis]

And for anyone who cares to know, I have a highly favorable impression of the fine men and women who serve on the Oakland Police Department.

[vbrans]

The problem is systemic and nationwide not jurisdictional.

[Laserbeam]

I am so sorry to hear of all this, but not very surprised. I am a 45 year old white woman who was born in Oakland, and even as a white kid I was terrified of the Oakland PD. I never thought the BART police were of any use except to be bullies.

I had thought Oakland was going through a small renaissance with the re-opening of the Paramount and other such activities. It would be nice if they could do something about the obvious tension in the community by revamping not only the BART police's attitudes but also the Oakland PD's attitude...they are there to protect, not to harass.

[jsomerville5]

No, Oakland's crime rate is still in the tank. To that end, it is not having a renaissance.

[robXdion]

Have you ever handled a gun before? A taser has a different grip than a pistol handle. There is a SAFETY on the weapon you'll have to click off to fire the weapon. In the video the cop clearly held the weapon out in front of himself where he could see what it was. He fired it TWICE!!! Please stop insulting our intelligence in your sad attempt at being an apologist for this cop.

[Jtt]

Read up Sherlock - happens all the time.

[motoGpifupleez]

One of the best things to happen in modern America is the rise of Video phones that allow more people the ability to document police atrocities. Not long ago, who could have stood up and called this murderous thug out for his crime? His brother officers would simply un-cuffed the man, placed a "drop weapon" on the ground and he would have been praised as a fine example of an officer doing his duty in the face of great danger. Now, these thugs are under surveillance by "We the People", and you know it cramps their style. The justice system needs to come down on that murderer with full force. there is no other charge than murder when you shoot a man the way these worthless excuses of law enforcement did.
A warning to all thugs dressed in blue: We are WATCHING YOU

[vbrans]

It does not matter they will always walk!

[Hare]

Why is it unavailable, does it have to be retouched or fix in some way?

[vbrans]

No the MSM will spin this just fine the way it is.

[GravitonX]

Did you know that the hands of Black men look like guns when you're "under stress?"

[jmundstuk]

This is certainly reassuring: "If he was under stress he would not be able to distinguish between a Taser and his firearm," said Bruce Siddle, founder of PPCT Management Systems, an Illinois company that trains law-enforcement officers in use-of-force."

[gageeandbaba]

KEEP FIGHTING. Our police are out of control and I think that this is only the beginning.

[jsomerville5]

Hogwash. All police are not out of control. I have been the victim of robbery in NYC (once, with a gun to my head, in the subway) and the cops worked like hell to catch the perp. They did.

[findmind]

I was glad to see people of all colors protesting....the police cannot execute those they are supposed to be protecting and serving.

[ThePeacemakers]

But lying face down on the ground, why would he had even needed to be STUNNED with a stun gun??

[GravitonX]

And, you thought that racism was gone because "we" elected a Black President.

If ya can't lynch'em, shoot'em, but get a badge first.

Oh, how I miss Public Enemy and Xclan.

[vbrans]

By the time I get to Oakland!!!

[NoMoFearNoMoHate]

"I don't want anybody hurt, I don't want anybody killed."

Too late for that isn't it...

[Paul Peete - Huffpost Blogger]

No justice, no peace comes immediately to mind. We have a festering police problem nationwide as exemplified by the numerous ki.llings of unarmed Black men in Inglewood, CA. A justice Department more concerned with ACORN than out of control cops led to this sorry state of affairs.

[GrainOSand]

Keep your powder dry.

[vbrans]

WORD!!

[robXdion]

And I highly doubt Obama and his new AG will do anything about it. Cause you know the old saying, they love to talk a good game, but ''they're afraid of revolution".

[GrainOSand]

I love that song.

[vbrans]

I agree but, it's not just black people or minorities(although they do suffer more of this).Until we look at this problem for what it is it won't go away.Whatever an authority figures views are on race they should not be doing this to anyone.It may be easier for some idiotic people to dismiss this if it happens to a black person, but there are hundreds of videos on youtube of police brutalizing men, women and even children of every creed.It is a problem that started with the drug war and the militaristic mindset police officers are trained to have towards the public.It may have started as an excuse to mistreat minorities but it has moved far beyond that now.

[GreatFutureForAll]

I have to disagree with "Robxdion."

I actually think that Obama and Attorney General Holder will have a significant impact on this problem...but only if we put pressure on them to do so.

You must remember one important thing: We elected the first President in history that was refused a ride in a New York cab simply because of the color of his skin.

The world never looks the same to you after it happens (he gets it).

In a different world, it could have just as easily been the President lying on that BART platform and not Mr. Grant.

[cookieD]

What happened to the clip????

[foxisms]

I just can't get enough stories about people being charged with "unlawful assembly".
In America, what is unlawful assembly when the first amendment of our Constitution specifically ensures assembly as a basic human right to "collectively express, promote, pursue and defend common interests", or more specifically implied the right to protest??
We have a glut of lawyers in America to interpret laws for the common man and woman when these laws were meant to be easily understandable to all, only to have the meaning of what few seem fairly clear and understandable, altered and reinvented to the point of having none of their original, intended meaning any longer.
Time to wake up people. Take that red pill.

[pollwatcher123]

What do the authorities expect?

Shooting an unarmed, handcuffed man who in the back while he is laying face down is not something that needs to be justified, rationalized, excused, or defended.

I don't care what he THOUGHT he was reaching for.

Maybe these rioters and so called "cop-killers" didn't know they were using real guns either. Maybe they thought they had grabbed bb guns or plastic guns when they left the house that day too.

The Blue Wall is going to quickly become the Berlin Wall of our present day. And there will be no Justice in America until we TEAR DOWN THAT BLUE WALL.

[gaebolgaes]

so! whats new! this nation led the allied forces into nazi germany to free the oppressed jews and others.the allies did three things 1. they released every jew from every jail, root cellar and concentration camp. 2. they put the nazis on trial at nurnburg and put them out of business. 3. they made the germans pay reparations. 25 years later in the usa when civil and voting rights laws were passed..neither of those 3 things happened. if you were behind bars for forgetting to say mister to a white man..you stayed in jail.if you were a white judge who had attended a lynching a week before civil rights laws were passed...you stayed on the bench. bull connors and george wallace and richard russell were never put on trial. they ran for president and got senate office buildings named after them.and as for reparations..the mere mention of the word brings on apopoleptic fits. america with noted exceptions is to blacks..what germany would be to jews if the nazis were left in power.

[urnumbersix]

WORD

[vedder110]

Yes, and the people who ordered the bombing innocent civilians in Dresden and Tokyo were never tried either.

----

If the Nuremberg Laws were Applied...
by Noam Chomsky

http://www.chomsky.info/talks/1990----.htm