Peaceful vigils call for justice for Oscar Grant

by: Pam Spaulding

Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 12:00:00 PM EST

Speaking at this vigil, held in Leimert Park, Los Angeles, were: Vincent Jones (Jordan Rustin Coalition), Vallerie Wagner (National Black Justice Coalition), Elmer Roldan (Community Coalition), Latrice Dixon (Here To Stay Coalition), Brian Morgan (Courage Campaign), and Nakhone Keodara (Gays United Network).

"We are united by more than a public execution and gross misuse of authority," says Jordan Rustin Coalition Board Member Vincent Jones. "We come together tonight because all of our civil rights are at risk when we don't lift our voices against this type of injustice."

The goal of today's National Day of Action is to put pressure on legislative leaders to create an independent body with oversight powers over BART police and to have BART officer Johannes Mehserle arrested and charged to the fullest extent of the law.

"There is only one answer to a tragedy like this: justice. On behalf of our nearly 400,000 members, the Courage Campaign calls for an immediate independent oversight of the BART police," says Courage Campaign Chair Rick Jacobs. "We join in solidarity with hundreds of people across the country in mourning this horrific shooting and pledge to redouble our efforts to build social justice in our state."

"In light of last night's arrest of the former officer who committed the killing of Oscar Grant, it is now more important then ever for a national showing of solidarity and demand for and end to police brutality everywhere," says Sean Dugar, President of the California NAACP Youth & College Division.

The death of Oscar Grant has brought together a diverse coalition of groups committed to ending discrimination and violence. A number of LGBT groups have stepped into the struggle in a show of solidarity.

"We are stunned and outraged at the continued pernicious attacks that the Black community suffers at the hand of the police," says Latrice Dixon of the Here to Stay Coalition, a Black LGBT organization." From the murders of Amadou Diallo and Sean Bell by the NYPD to the recent assassinations of unarmed Dante Story in South Central and unarmed Oscar Grant in San Francisco, the Here to Stay Coalition condemns the repeated police terror of Black and poor communities and calls for all communities to use King's example and organize for justice!"

"Gays United Network is standing with the African-American community to fight injustice in all of its forms," says Nakhone Keodara, Gays United Network Founder & Community Organizer.

Hat tip, Ron Buckmire.