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The January 2009 riots [1] occurred in Oakland, California's Central Business District, Downtown, and Lakeside Apartments District on January 7, 2009 following BART Police officer Johannes Mehserle's shooting of Oscar Grant III on January 1, 2009.

The urban riots arose out of a peaceful protest that began earlier in the day at the Fruitvale BART Station, and evolved into a march toward downtown.[2] Police in riot gear were dispatched and made efforts to disperse the crowds. During the course of the evening, among other peaceful protest tactics, some of the protesters turned to rioting and rampant property vandalism. Black Bloc and other rioters smashed hundreds of car and shop windows,[3] and burned a police car,[4] several private cars and numerous trash containers, and dumpsters. Public buildings such as the Oakland Police Internal Affairs office and almost restored Fox Theatere were heavily vandalized.[5]The rioting wound down later in the evening and resulted in at least 105 arrests for suspicion of various offenses. Over 300 businesses were affected by the vandalism.[6]

The effect of the wide viewership of the Direct evidence videos of the shooting, and the riots themselves have been covered in the United States in regional and national media,[7][8] in international media,[9][10][11] and in internet news media.[12]

Grant's family has called the rioting an affront to his memory.[13][14]

The City of Oakland is offering economic assistance to business owners affected by the riots. The riots have augmented the perception of crime in Oakland within some segments of the business community.[15]


Context

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Video images of the shooting were widely broadcast and streamed online in the days following Grant's death. Several hundred thousand viewed the videos in the first few days after the incident.[16] One local television station video posted to its website was downloaded more than 500,000 times in four days and [17] one independent media video posted to the internet averaged more than 1,000 views per hour.[16] Widespread dissemination of the direct evidence of the shooting led to public outrage and protests and fueled riots.[18] The riots highlight the impact technology can have on news events.[17]

Community members and activists decried the shooting incident as yet another case of police brutality. There was a broad public perception that BART Police and the Alameda County District Attorney's office were not conducting an effective investigation.[19]Others were angry that Mehserle did not cooperate with Police and District Attorney's Office investigators. The shooting stirred outrage among those who believe it was tantamount to execution.[20]

Fruitvale protest

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On January 7, 2009, protests over the shooting and administration of justice began peacefully about 3:30 p.m. with about 500 people gathering at the Fruitvale station.[21]

March to downtown

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In the early evening, some of the protesters marched toward Oakland's central business district and downtown. Over 200 Oakland police officers were dispatched in an attempt to disperse the protesters. Police roadblocked streets and diverted vehicle and foot traffic.After entering the central business district the march continued to BART Police command and control headquarters at 8th & Madison streets near the Lake Merritt BART station.

Rioting

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Conflagration

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There, at BART Police Command and Control, a contingent of angry protesters surrounded a police car. The officer driving the car fled on foot.[22] Meanwhile, the rioters broke out the cruiser's windows and attempted to overturn it,[23] and set a garbage dumpster on fire at the intersection. A line of police wearing gas masks swept up behind the rear of the march and deployed tear gas in an attempt to disperse the crowd.[22]

The protest continued as the crowd marched along 8th Street through Chinatown. At Broadway, officers wearing gas masks deployed more tear gas canisters and acted quickly to charge and disperse the crowd as they approached the vicinity of Oakland Police headquarters at 7th and Broadway.[24]

Downtown sit-in

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The protest regrouped Downtown at the intersection of 14th and Broadway, blocking motor vehicle traffic.[25] Some of the protesters lied face down in the intersection, in a symbolic act of solidarity with Grant, who was killed in the same position.[22] Others shouted at police and chanted in unison. Others carried signs that read, "Your idea of justice?" and "Jail Killer Cops"[22] and lit candles in remembrance of Grant.

Police in helmets and gas masks grouped in standing line formations on the south, west, and north sides of the intersection, allowing an avenue of retreat down 14th Street on the East side of the intersection.[22]

Dispersal tactics

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About an hour later Police gave orders to disperse and fired tear gas grenades, rubber bullets,[26] and other "less lethal" weapons and devices at demonstrators.[27] Protestors threw bottles, rocks, and other objects at police.[28] At times, police charged the crowds.[27] Police used batons to hit and push at crowds of demonstrators, and lines of police in riot gear charged the crowd at times.[29] Police rolled through the streets at high speed in various police vehicles in attempt to intimidate demonstrators, to include motorcycles, and an armored fighting vehicle.[26] Police pushed the crowd east along 14th Street into the Lakeside Apartments District and the scene dissolved into a riot along the 14th Street spine.

Numerous helicopters which had been airborne throughout the evening, converged on the area. Law enforcement helicopters shined powerful spotlights down onto surface streets,[30] while media helicopters shot video of developments from overhead, which were broadcast in real time on local television stations.

Vandalism

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In the ensuing hours, a small clutch[31] of rioters burned the contents of trash cans, dumpsters, newspaper boxes and set fire to at least five cars, including an Oakland police patrol car.[32] Some rioters jumped from parked car to parked car, smashing in the front and rear windshield like crushed eggshells [33] The riot spread deep into the Lakeside Apartments District and cars were burned and heavily damaged on Madison Street. Other rioters in this clutch broke storefront windows, to include those of a McDonalds fast food restauarant at Jackson and 14th Streets in the Lakeside Apartments District. The night of the riot coincided with trash collection day the following morning and numerous trash dumpsters and containers were parked curbside. Rioters used these dumpsters to start fires along city streets.[34] Rioters damaged some of the carefully restored historic woodwork and terra cotta on the nearly restored Fox Theater. Damage to the Fox was preliminarily estimated at $10,000 to $20,000.[35]

Dellums' appearance

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As the rioting moved east toward Lake Merritt, Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums and Larry Reid held an impromptu press conference at 14th and Jackson Streets, along the spine of the rioting, and called for the crowd to disperse peacefully.[22] Dellums peacefully marched with the crowd back West along 14th Street to the steps of City Hall, where he attempted to address the crowd, but cut the meeting short and entered City Hall after the crowd became agitated, began booing, and shouted Dellums down.

After Dellums entered City Hall with his own delegation, locking the doors behind him, the demonstrators continued through City Hall Plaza, with angry splinter groups of rioters smashing the windows of Oakland Police Department's Internal Affairs and Recruiting Office at the East side of 250 Frank Ogawa Plaza. Windows of police cruisers parked outside the offices were also smashed.

Flare up

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The protesters continued east along 17th Street into the 17th Street Commercial District in Oaksterdam, crossing Broadway and Franklin, where rioters broke numerous storefront windows,[36] and continued back into the Lakeside District, lighting discarded christmas trees on fire. Police continued their efforts to disperse the crowds, and rioting continued on Broadway Downtown.

Protesters holding signs on January 8, 2009.

Denouement

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The rioting wound down around 10:40PM[22] in the vicinity of 20th and Broadway outside of the Paramount Theater, where police detained around 80 individuals for various offenses. Most were cited and released for complaints which include inciting a riot, vandalism, assault on a police officer, and arson. Police recovered two handguns from the rioters.[37] Around 120 people in total were arrested for offenses arising from the protests during the course of the evening.[38] Two have been charged to date.

The Lake Merritt and 12th Street BART stations were temporarily shut down during the evening.

Media coverage

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Numerous media photographers and videographers, both affiliated and independent,[39] filmed the scene from close proximity on the ground. [40]

Media helicopters shot video of developments from overhead, which were broadcast in real time on local television stations. [41]

Reaction from Grant's family

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Grant's family pleaded for calm and spoke out against the violence at a press conference the next day, calling the riots "an affront to Grant's memory,"[13] reminding the public that "Oscar would not want to see all the violence going on."[42] Despite these pleas, the rioting continued the evening of the 8th downtown on a much smaller scale.[13]

Reaction from the business community

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The riots have augmented the perception of crime in Oakland, adding to last year's run of takeover robberies, and are a challenge to overcome for greater economic investment.[43]

Reaction from city officials

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The Dellums administration held a press conference in City Hall Hearing room 4 on 8 January and decried the riots as regressive. Dellums noted there were riots in the streets of Oakland 40 years ago "and here we are, still smashing cars. [44] Dellums noted that people were upset and had "lost faith in the process" because of what he called lack of communication by BART officials and the district attorney's office in the days after Grant was killed. BART has also been criticized for not ordering Mehserle to speak to internal affairs earlier.[45]

Oakland's Community and Economic Development Agency came forth to provide financial aid to the shop owners whose windows were smashed as a part of the response by the Dellums administration.[46] Its Business Development Services Division is offering small grants from the façade improvement grant program that can be used for deductibles or repairs, publicizing the Enterprise Zone Tax Credit program, and engaging private lenders to match its contributions. The Oakland Business Development Corporation is also making small business loans. The City’s marketing department is going to step up its focus on downtown boutiques and stores. Security ambassador programs are also beginning as a part of the upcoming Downtown and Lake Merritt Community Benefit Districts.[47]

References

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  1. ^ Mike Harvey (2009). "YouTube video fuels US riots over killing of Oscar Grant". The Times. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
  2. ^ Oakland protest organizer watched in horror (2009-01-09). "Oakland protest organizer watched in horror". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
  3. ^ Tim Jue /California Beat Staff Writer (2009-01-10). "Oakland businesses fearful of more rioting". Online News Journal. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
  4. ^ Chip Johnson (2009-01-09). "Protesters who trashed Oakland missed the mark". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
  5. ^ Carolyn Jones (2009-01-09). "Oakland storekeepers tell of night of terror". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
  6. ^ Laura Anthony (2009-01-08). "Oakland businesses vandalized by rioters". KGO TV. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
  7. ^ USA Today Staff (2009-01-09). "Oakland shooting fuels anger over police brutality". USA Today. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
  8. ^ Eliott C. McLaughlin (2009). "Video of California police shooting spurs investigation". CNN. Retrieved 2009-01-07. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ "Family of man shot in back by police sue for $25m". The Daily Telegraph. 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
  10. ^ "Police killing unarmed man sparks riot". The Australian. 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
  11. ^ Jemima Kiss (2009). "Fatal police shooting posted on YouTube". The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
  12. ^ "New Questions Surface Following BART Shooting". MSNBC. 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
  13. ^ a b c Jesse McKinley (2009-01-08). "In California, Protests After Man Dies at Hands of Transit Police". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-01-10. Cite error: The named reference "nyt108" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  14. ^ Matthai Kuruvila, Charles Burress, and Demian Bulwa (2009). "Oakland protest organizer watched in horror". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2009-01-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ "Oakland a great place for business, really". The Oakland Tribune. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
  16. ^ a b Matthew B. Stannard (2009). "BART shooting captured on video". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2009-01-07. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ a b Elinor Mills (2009). "Web videos of Oakland shooting fuel emotions, protests". CNET Networks. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
  18. ^ Mike Harvey (2009). "YouTube video fuels US riots over killing of Oscar Grant". The Times. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
  19. ^ "Oakland protests after BART killing of Oscar Grant". San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
  20. ^ "Protests over BART shooting turn violent". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
  21. ^ Eliott C. McLaughlin (2009). "Hundreds demand answers, action in subway shooting". CNN. Retrieved 2009-01-08. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  22. ^ a b c d e f g Demian Bulwa (2009). "Protests over BART shooting turn violent". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2009-01-08. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  23. ^ Terry Collins (2009). "Fatal Calif. train station shooting sparks anger". Associated Press. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
  24. ^ Joe Vazquez (2009-01-08). "Inside The Oakland Riot: A First-Hand Account". KPIX TV CBS-5. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
  25. ^ Farai Chideya (2009-01-08). "Hundreds Protest In Oakland Over BART Shooting". National Public Radio(NPR). Retrieved 2009-01-11.
  26. ^ a b "Breaking News from the Protest Against the Murder of Oscar Grant". Indybay. 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
  27. ^ a b "Rally and Rage Over BART Police Murder of Oscar Grant". Indybay. 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
  28. ^ The Associated Press (2009-01-08). "Police crack down after train shooting protests, Businesses smashed, cars set blaze in Oakland after transit cop killed man". Oakland business cleans up after riot. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
  29. ^ Brian Lysaght (2009-01-08). "Oakland storekeepers tell of night of terror". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
  30. ^ Steven E.F. Brown (2009-01-08). "Oakland storekeepers tell of night of terror". San Francisco Business Times. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
  31. ^ Jesse McKinley (2009). "Oakland Turns Violent Over Shooting". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
  32. ^ "Grant's family pleads for peace". The San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
  33. ^ "Grant's family pleads for peace". The San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
  34. ^ "About Last Night". East Bay Express. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
  35. ^ "Grant's family pleads for peace". The San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
  36. ^ Steven E.F. Brown (2009-01-08). "Oakland storekeepers tell of night of terror". San Francisco Business Times. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
  37. ^ UPI Staff Writers (2009-01-10). "Three charged in Oakland riot". The United Press International(UPI). Retrieved 2009-01-11.
  38. ^ "120 Arrested In Violent BART Protest". KTVU. 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
  39. ^ "Oakland Riot Ground Footage". CNN. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
  40. ^ "Hundreds demand answers, action in subway shooting". CBSEyeMobile. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
  41. ^ "Raw news footage of riots from news helicopter". KTVU TV. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
  42. ^ "Calm urged after Oakland protests; The family of a man shot dead by a Bay Area Rapid Transit police officer Jan. 1 decries this week's violent demonstration". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
  43. ^ "Oakland a great place for business, really". The Oakland Tribune. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
  44. ^ "Rowdy Protesters Return To Oakland Streets". KTVU TV. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
  45. ^ "BART shooting victim's family decries violence". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
  46. ^ "Oakland a great place for business, really". The Oakland Tribune. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
  47. ^ "Got a Vandalized Window?". The Oakbook. Retrieved 2009-01-11.

See also

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