Oscar J. Grant III, 22, was shot in the back and killed by 27-year-old Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) police officer Johannes Mehserle early on New Year’s Day.
John L. Burris, long-time civil rights attorney who is representing Grant’s family, called the death “the worst I’ve ever seen in a shooting case” and said that it “cries out for criminal prosecution.” The family filed a $25-million wrongful death claim against the agency Tuesday.
Graphic video of Grant’s death shows Mehserle shooting the unarmed Grant in the back as he lay face down while other officers restrained him.
Just a day later, a police officer in Bellaire, Texas, shot Robert Tolan, the 23-year-old son of World Series Champion Bobby Tolan outside of their home.
Two young, black, unarmed men shot by those who are supposed to serve and protect. What are we going to do about this?
FORMER KILPATRICK AIDE SENTENCED
On Tuesday, Christine Beatty, former chief of staff for former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, reported to jail for obstruction of justice stemming from their text-messaging sex scandal case. She will serve 120 days behind bars.
In September, Kilpatrick resigned as mayor and pleaded guilty to two felony obstruction of justice charges stemming from his efforts to cover up his relationship with Beatty. He is currently serving his sentence in the Wayne County jail.
2009 TO BE YEAR OF TOTAL DECLINE
According to American investor and financial commentator Jim Rogers, the American economy in 2009 will probably be worse than World War II. Check out his recent interview with Bloomberg Television.
What are your thoughts on the economy?
can’t read all the comments…but doesn’t a taser feel a whole lot different from a gun?
If the officer can’t tell the difference before discharging the weapon…should he even have a weapon?
To the people who think it wasn’t intentional….shouldn’t somebody answer for the death anyways….or are you going to explain to his family that it was an accident?
Unfortunately I think this murderous cop is going to get away scot-free. He just resigned from the force rather than face their questions. So why haven’t they picked his azz up in a patrol car and slung him in jail? If he does get away with it I do hope somebody tracks him down and puts a bullet in his back the way he did to Oscar. BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY
THE LATEST NEWS ON THIS IS THAT THE BART AUTHORITIES DEMANDED THE MURDEROUS COP ATTEND AN INTERVIEW YESTERDAY. INSTEAD OF SHOWING UP FOR THE INTERVIEW HE HAD HIS ATTORNEY ATTEND WITH HIS LETTER OF RESIGNATION. HE IS NOW CHILLING AT HOME WITH HIS KKK FRIENDS, GLOATING OVER THE FACT HE DONE SHOT HIM A NI**ER
THIS IS SO VERY VERY SAD. GOD BLESS THE FAMILY IN MAY THERE CHILD REST IN PEACE. I MEAN WHY DO ALL THESE PEOPLE THINK BECAUSE WE ELECTED A BLACK PRESIDENT THAT WE HAVE OVER CAME. WRONG. LOOK PEOPLE AMERICA IS NOT A HUMAN SOCIETY. BLACK WHITE GREEN OR PURPLE SOMETHING INSIDE OF US IS VERY WRONG AS HUMANS. WE CANNOT SAY GOD BLESS AMERICA. WHEN MOST AMERICANS DON;T BELIEVE IN GOD OR A HIGHER POWER. WE ARE A MEAN EVIL BEING ON THIS EARTH. WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER ALL PEOPLE ROUND TABLE TO TRY IN FIX THIS OBAMA MAY BE A START BUT HE IS NOT THE ANSWER. IF THERE IS A SUCH THING AS AMERICA WE SHOULD BE VERY ASHAME. WE SHOULD NOT BE TALKING ABOUT UNJUST KILLING IN RACISM. IN AMERICA. SORRY DR KING BUT WE HAVE NOT OVER CAME.
@AVENGE OSCAR GRANT’S DEATH NOW
The cop resigned? The playing field is leveled now.
Wow thats sad they shot ole boy in the back like he was an animal… smh things have to change in 09….people must change.
Oh yeah and as for the econmoy NOW is the time to start saving!!!!
That is sad and I think the cop should be punished however, lets not forgot about all the black on black crime that happens daily. I don’t see anyone bringing that up on blogs, where is the NAACP, Al and Jesse when black men are killing their brothers? I live in Dallas and a black guy who doesn’t have a record at all made the biggest mistake of his life by killing a local well known police officer in South Dallas or Dallas area. They weren’t even looking for him. So, we have a black man who was killed at the hands of a white cop and a white cop who was killed at the hands of a black man. Is one event greater than the other?
That shooting of Robert Tolan was just as bad. I just read that article now. I bet some of these black women will say that he shouldn’t have been driving around so late with his brother in a car that looked like it was stolen.
@MWNY
Lmao, I knew that another one of you women would have to have your say lol. You black men better wake up man. Ya’ll better wake up big time and stop worrying about what these women will think if you speak the truth. The vast majority, not all, of them have been compromised because the white man has bought them off. Most of these sisters are not with you, they are with this system. They view the black man as competition and their enemies. Wake up. Then when Imus calls them nappy-headed hos, they want the black man to support them. If brothers remember correctly; through Oprah, they found a way to blame the black man for that too, lol.
Yes the cop has resigned and a warrant is now out for his arrest. I am praying that justice will be done. Click on the link below for the latest still from video footage of the shooting, clearly showing the officer grinning as he murders Oscar.
http://www.africancrisis....headed_Stacy_Wilson_7.jpg
I find it quite disgusting how some people on here are going out of their way to rationalise/implicitly defend the actions of these bent coppers. They HATE black people and that is a fact. Stop play strange bedfellows, and stick up for our black brothers who are being massacred by these extremists.
America shouldn’t be condemning Al Qaeda, Hamas, Tamil Tigers, Lashk-e-Taiba (the ones supposedly behind the shootings in India in November), when it’s plain to see that American police forces across the country are the homegrown terrorists.
@132
Yes. I agree.
@ JUDAH
You need to get a grip, all your conspiracy stories sound like a bunch of nosense
I agree with the poster who said the only way this sh*t will end is when the world ends. Im not surprised by the cops shooting a UNARMED black man nor will I be shocked if he walks away free. There is nothing any of us can do about it. All of yall are saying lets go killed the cops. Now you know good and damn well that wont happen. The only way that would happen is if black people actually banded together. Every last one of us. And black people banding together is like pulling a shark tooth up close from an awake shark. Lets be honest, black people will kill each other first before they kill a police officer. That is a fact after reading certain statements written on this blog.
White people will always be evil and America will always be the land where demons play and run wild. I just hope when the world ends and hopefully God rebuilds it, black people will come back as smarter, stronger and fiercer people. But you know time will only tell how our journeys begin and end I guess.
@ THEGREATESTLOVEOFALL
Aint that the truth….
Instead of arguing about the issues, all of you prefer to point the blames at yourself. You can blame the black women all you want. You can blame the black men all you want, but you are all COLLECTIVELY fools…man or woman.
You will never hear white people fight with each other if a black person was to shoot an innocent white person. They would rather collectively shoot all of you niggas execution style. The same applies to Asian people and even those middle eastern people who seem to bomb each other for absolutely nothing.
I rather say that this issue is only in black America because even in Canada or in France, black people don’t act that way. The only thing that will ever bring black America together is some sort of genocide or holocaust. Then and only then will the black women and black men share a common interest.
@Nothing But Love
What conspiracy theory? I don’t know who you think you’re fooling but you certainly cannot fool me. Other than 2 or 3 sisters on here with some sense, most of them are either trying to make an excuse for the policeman or they’re saying that they will “pray for both families”, smh. The Lord is not hearing your B.S. prayers (Proverbs 28:9, Jeremiah 11:14). Alot of black people think that they can do what they want; live how they want, and think what they want, and then when affliction comes, they want to talk about what they’re going to pray for or to. Get the hell out of here.
@So What
That genocide and that holocaust will come. That is what this economic collapse is the pretext for. All that pride and pomp will cease and there won’t be anymore “thug niggas” and “independent strong black women”. There will just be people fighting for their lives and each race will resort back to their own and drop the unity mind-control nonsense.
@MWN
Any day someone kills a cop, that’s a good day. It is even a better day, when a Black man does it. I remember here in NY a guy went on a killing spree and shot two unarmed auxillary cops. The video was aired on TV. You even saw when one of cops was running and fell; the gunman stood over him, with the cop obviously begging for his life, dude just pumped three bullets in his a$$.
That scene was…what’s the word?…orgasmic. I know at his funeral people talked about how good a cop he was, but no one talked about alll the b*tching he did before he got shot.
And @
#43 – SOUL COOKBOOK & #46 – THE TRUTH….
I love the words you have shared on this site/comments page…you both have been TRULY blessed by God w/what matters most…INTELLIGENCE & UNDERSTANDING!!! You should be travelling the world and sharing your wisdom! More people ‘lost in the sauce’ should be around you two in order to gain a better perspective on life!
Jah Bless!!!
LMAO @ Dukesman.
I remember those two b*tches in the Village.
And I understand how pissed off everybody is but ‘shooting cracker cops in the face’ is NOT the kind of thing WE as a people should be doing! It will only bring us down to their evilous levels! WE are children of God, WE are intelligent, God-fearin’, LOVING creatures. That’s the beauty of us, and that’s why white people feel intimidated and hateful towards us. WE were born/created with a different mindset, different physical traits that they covet and PAY for, different heart…..while all they know about is STEALING/TAKING from others to make themselves seem/appear BETTER!! WE CAN NOT STOOP TO THEIR LEVELS PEOPLE!!! WE should maintain the humility that our ancestors had in the Motherland! WE don’t need to resort to BULLSHIT like this to appear better NOR for healing! God alone is enough! He is always watching! We’ve always been a strong people…we need to stand together and protect each other, reclaim our strength!
@ JUDAH
Im talking about your theorys of how “the black woman” is against and hates the black man and their working with the system. c’mon seriously what the heck are you talking about?? im a black woman and i dont hate black men nor am i working “with” the system; your making yourself sound crazy….
@ #137 – SO WHAT….1234567
Only reason they don’t act like that in Canada (where I LIVE) and France (where an African descendant friend had to RUN AWAY from only to come to the same shit here in CANADA) is because the majority is BRAINWASHED!!!
Would rather fall for anything and live a spoiled, MATERIALISTIC life WITH the ‘smile-in-your-face-stab-you-in-the-back-ruin-your-life’ caucasians than stand for something/be proud of who they are, where their parents come from!! Like what was said before, white people only know to glamourize their lives and reap off of the hard work of others…mostly non-white people! And black people would rather feel equal by having the same ”riches” that whites have by throwing away their culture/creed/background and conform!!
@144 Nothing But Love
Read the comments please. Instead of trying to parlay this issue into an attack on me, read the comments by some of these creatures. Furthermore, I could care less how I’m perceived. I said “most”. if you’re not one of the “most” than it shouldn’t affect or offend you. Believe me, there are women that frequent this site that will avoid a post like this because they don’t want to out themselves for what they are. “People” like “MWNY” and “I Have Not Thought of A Username” are not even intelligent enough to want to hide their true feelings. No one would dare tell a white jew that the Holocaust didn’t occur or that they deserve to be fighting tooth and nail with the Palestinians for the atrocities that they have committed. On the other hand, you can always count on a black woman to propagate the smokescreen of black on black crime (a COMPLETELY separate issue) to justify why racism no longer exists.
@JamaquinaCubanita,
Sister, I hear you and understand what you trying to say. However, haven’t Black people been praying for forgiveness for the white for a long time now? The more accepting we’ve become, the more wicked and evil the white man has become. Yes, we are loving creatures, but for our love we’ve only inherited the white man’s brutality. We call on God they call on God – while they put the ropes around our necks. We say “Lord forgive for they know not what they’ve done.” As long as they’ve been doing it, they not only know what they’re doing, they’ve become subject matter experts at lynching Black people. God only help those who help themselves and we are not helping ourselves when we sit back and watch these racist bastards shoot us down like wild beasts. What about that old time religion: an eye for an eye; a limb for a limb? If there is going to be sorrow in the Black community, let there be sorrow in the white community. Evil does not take a step back – only in the face of more evil.
@Judah…
I figured you were a NYer….
I couldn’t have put it better than “WESTINDIEPRINCESS” did. This nonsense about how well blacks live in Canada and France is a facade. There were almost race wars in France a couple of years ago when the caucasian French got inspired to run the North Africans, Haitians, and black Africans out of the country and they rioted in response. As for Canada, those negroes up there are watered down robots. Thats why they’re always talking about how there is “racial harmony” in Canada. White people can only live in harmony with non-whites when they are the leaders and the other races understand that they are the leaders. That means that the other races must live like whites, speak like whites, and have European values. That’s what is meant when it is spoken that “all races should come together”.
The officer who shot Oscar is named Johannes Mehserle, and he is presently under police protection. Since he wants to take the cowards route and not show up to give an account of his actions that night, steps need to be take to flush him out from whatever hole he’s hiding in. I did a little research and found the following:
Possible email address: jmehserle@sbcglobal.net.
eBay account name:jmehserle; this is almost definite because that username made a purchase from a cop store back in April
facebook: Closest connection I could find is Marrika Mehserle, who was a student at theUniversity of California -Davis campus in northern Cali. A cousin, or sister, perhaps?
I also found a Todd Mehserle in northern Cali; based on his birthday he’s possibly an uncle or maybe even his father.
Im looking up contact info on the president of the BART officers union. Hes been disturbingly silent on this tragedy and is no doubt helping to shelter the sorry excuse for a man tha killed Oscar Grant in cold blood.
@ CAMILLE DAVIS:
So you’re polluting the community with a legion of fatherless bastards by man-children who don’t think enough of you to wife you up, and I’m the ignorant one with self esteem issues? Yeah, that makes a lot of sense lol.
That’s the problem. People are quick to rationalize this government-funded annihilation with bullshit excuses. But when it’s time to deal with the root cause endemic to 90% of the pathology, they lose their damn minds. You cannot raise anyone “the right way” by consciously failing miserably to give them a chance at a normal household. The truth hurts, deal with it.
Dumb ass cheap thrill.
LMAO @ #140 DUKESMAN
@149: good work. Let’s try and locate this cracker cop and flush his sordid murdering azz out. I sincerely doubt he is going to even be alive this time next week!!
Dukesman that is simply the best post I’ve ever seen on CL. Can’t stop laughing!
“Any day someone kills a cop, that’s a good day. It is even a better day, when a Black man does it. I remember here in NY a guy went on a killing spree and shot two unarmed auxillary cops. The video was aired on TV. You even saw when one of cops was running and fell; the gunman stood over him, with the cop obviously begging for his life, dude just pumped three bullets in his a$$.
That scene was…what’s the word?…orgasmic”
@Sade
I agree that no one is going to kill that cop. Black people as a whole have been compromised. Killing the cop is carnal anyway. The issue is a spiritual issue.
As a young black man living in ATL this scares me to DEATH to think that for no reason I could be shot and killed because of a police officer’s “judgement” that I am potentially violent .
I get pulled over all the time for no reason; I literally have a phobia of the police, jail, and court.
I think police are out to get me, not to help.
And it’s only going to get worse.
Lord BLESS their family. 25 million dollars could never be enough.
109. JUDAH, 112. ZULU, 114. dukesman2000
I’ll adress you all at once
I am not defending anbody I wasn’t there.
Wow some of ya’ll are really crazy, I guess I wasn’t clear in my comments.
The point I was trying to make was, I don’t think that the officer went to work that day with the intention of killing anybody black or white. Either way, whether or not he pulled the gun but was thinking taser, there was no need for it because Oscar was complying and handcuffed. I just think it’s possible (I’M NOT SAYING THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED) that in the heat of the moment an 2 year officer made a horrible call, he will pay for in this life or the after life and that I’m sure of.
I hope I was more clear than my last post if not I give up lol
God Bless and Good Night
G
too sad. RIP
Why don’t you guys grow up? People can make mistakes. Cops can make mistakes too. (They’re people. They share the same genes and they’re bound by the same curse as every man on this planet.)
Black people concern themselves with drawing out “racist”issues. Pleeeeaaaase. You wouldn’t know “racist” unless a white guy wearing a grand purple robe rode up on you with his white stallion carrying a can of BBQ starter fluid, a match and a wooden cross!!!
These young men were all on the BART system at 2 am. If they were minding their own business then I can see why this would be wrong, but they weren’t. They were fighting. Cops are supposed to be called out to fights. “That what cops do.”
Are young black men supposed to be on the BART fighting?
Is that “how they do?”
My tax money is going toward making your neighborhood safe. Why? Because you can’t police your own kids! You can’t because you won’t. Somebody has to do it for you. You would be better off setting rules for your children to follow,,,,,,, like curfew. That’s a good one. If they were in by 10 or 11 pm then this wouldn’t have happened. Monitor the young men and women they hang out with. Take time to hang out with them yourselves.
But don’t go around pointing the finger at police or any other authority figure who is “doing doubletime” trying to catch up to your failures or mistakes.
First of all, I am so tired of black people having to use their color to defend their own racist anger. Being black doesn’t make it ok to be racist against anyone. I’m not white and I’m not black. Last time I checked, God doesn’t bless those who are cruel no matter what color you are. Yes, what has happened was an enormous tragedy and is completely unjustified. That man did not deserve what happened to him and it is especially sad because he was young. Yes, it is not a mystery that police have used their power to take action against those they are racist against. But why does this have to be the case EVERY SINGLE TIME? Police have done this to EVERYONE. In the end, it is a matter of a PERSON being given a certain amount of power over people that obviously cannot handle it properly. This has been proven in scientific experiments even. There are people who can be given power and they abuse it. Not because they are racist necessarily, but because they have no self control. I pray for the family of the young man and hopefully justice will be served. I do sincerely hope this wasn’t a racist act although does it matter? A young man’s life ended regardless. This shouldn’t be a reason to be racist against white people. This should be a reason to fight for a better system, to build a better country…together.
Trini
Dont miss the point of the article. People causing harm against them selves, and believe me honey it is happening in EVERY nationality is one thing. BUT the people that are hired to PROTECT the people KILLING people unlawfully is another ball game!!!!!!!!!!
First of all my heart goes out to anyone who has lost a loved one. We need more
love between all human beings no matter what race we are. The killings, period,
must stop. I ask that we all pray for God to comfort everyone at this time. I pray
that he dispatch his angels to protect each and everyone of us from harm. I know that
many are angered, we must remain calm. We do not need anymore killings stemming from this. God be with us all.
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