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by Wendy Snyder, Oaktown Uhuru News
All across the United States, a long list of police
have come to be known for their role in terrorizing
and brutalizing black people. Two years ago, Clarence
Mabanag, Jude Siapno, and Matthew Hornung and
Francisco Vasquez, the four the OPD gang accused of
planting drug evidence, kidnapping, and severely
beating people in the communities in West and North
Oakland, were added to this list. We can no longer
pretend that these are separate cases of bad apples in
a bunch, but must begin to challenge the popularly
supported public policy of police containment of the
black community.
Right here in the San Francisco Bay Area, police
terrorize African people in East and West Oakland,
South Berkeley, Richmond and the Bayview and Hunter's
Point on a daily basis. Not caught on video tape or
witnessed by rookie cops, these incidents are too
numerous and too heinous for words. We have to join
together and build a strong movement to challenge this
public policy of police containment of the African
community and struggle for reparations, justice, and
genuine economic development for African people.
On Monday, July 15th, the International People's
Democratic Uhuru Movement, Poor News Network, SF
Independent Media and several of the victims of the
"Oakland Riders" stood outside the Alameda County
Courthouse holding signs and chanting at what was
supposed to be the opening of the trial for the
"Oakland Riders," the OPD gang accused of planting
drug evidence, kidnapping, and severely beating people
in communities in West and North Oakland. However,
instead of beginning on Monday, the "Oakland Riders"
trial is still continuing its "jury selection" and is
now expected not to begin until September.
InPDUM organizer Sealli Moyenda explained, "They are
most definitely dragging out this case in an attempt
to silence any kind of protest. We're not going to let
them off the hook though. We are calling for the
criminal prosecution of the four 'Oakland Rider' cops.
We also hold the city responsible for this type of
police brutality and are demanding a public apology
from OPD Chief Word and Mayor Jerry Brown as well as
reparations and justice for all the victims of OPD
brutality."
Continued Moyenda, " Last year, Jamil Muwwakkil was
beaten to death by six Oakland Police Officers, and
no one has even acknowledged that there was any kind
of wrongdoing. Those officers have remained on the
job. It's clear that the city-wide policy for the
African community is one of police containment."
One case in point is the story of Gregory Nash. Nash
came out to the courthouse to stand with the
demonstrators. Nash is part of a class action suit
being filed on behalf of the victims of the "Oakland
Riders." Nash was brutalized and framed by Francisco
Vasquez, the one officer who fled from the Bay Area
and still remains a fugitive.
One February night back in 2000, just months before
the whistle was blown, Gregory Nash crossed the
intersection at 40th and Telegraph and was nearly hit
by a van speeding along recklessly. He'd noticed a bag
that somebody had left on the bench at the bus stop
and had crossed the street thinking he could flag down
the bus to see if someone on the bus had left it
behind.
When Nash was almost hit by the van, he flipped them
the bird in response. The van pulled abruptly into the
parking lot in the strip mall near Payless Shoes. Five
to six undercover Oakland Police officers jumped out
of the van. "Oakland Rider" Francisco Vasquez grabbed
Nash by the neck and called him a "Fucking Nigger!"
Vasquez kept harassing and manhandling Nash, asking
him where the bag had come from. OPD then took Nash to
where he stayed and worked as the live-in security for
a health care facility. Nash said that Vasquez and his
partners proceeded to tear up his room. After that,
Vasquez took a bag out of his pocket containing crack
cocaine and a crack pipe and told Nash, "This is
yours."
Because of the OPD, Nash lost his residence and two
jobs. His personal life, he says, was seriously
disrupted. Nash vows that he and others he knows will
fight this injustice at every turn and calls on others
to do the same.
Attend the Wednesday night meetings of International
People's Democratic Uhuru Movement's Oakland branch to
organize for a massive mobilization at the opening of
the Oakland Riders trial and to continue to struggle
for justice for the African community.
Every Wednesday, 7pm, 7911 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland.
Call (510) 569-9620 for more info or email
oaktownuhuru@yahoo.com.
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