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Rioting Expected in Connection with Trial Verdict

Gryffindorian

Gryffindorian

Vice Admiral
Admiral
Some of you may have heard of the Mehserle trial (the BART security officer who shot and killed an unarmed man). Now people and businesses in downtown Oakland, CA (where I work), are bracing for the protests that will result in the verdict to be announced next week. My employer has been coordinating with the Oakland PD and other agencies and has sent various communications to employees. Our company allows us employees to take time off (leave early, use a vacation day) in light of the upcoming protests.

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local-beat/Operation-Verdict-Gets-Under-Way-in-Oakland-97502609.html

Having said that, I think some people are just plain idiots and are looking for an opportunity to vandalize and to cause trouble.
 
Drone36929 said:
Some of you may have heard of the Mehserle trial (the BART security officer who shot and killed an unarmed man). Now people and businesses in downtown Oakland, CA (where I work), are bracing for the protests that will result in the verdict to be announced next week. My employer has been coordinating with the Oakland PD and other agencies and has sent various communications to employees. Our company allows us employees to take time off (leave early, use a vacation day) in light of the upcoming protests.

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local-beat/Operation-Verdict-Gets-Under-Way-in-Oakland-97502609.html

Having said that, I think some people are just plain idiots and are looking for an opportunity to vandalize and to cause trouble.
Click to expand...

Well, it's Oakland so you can't be too careful. I do agree with your sentiment though. This is going to get ugly.
 
I don't think we can make any broad assumption about any place in the world. I've spent some time in Oakland, some years ago and it various just like anywhere. That said police officers face a nearly impossiable job everyday, by keeping the peace, protecting civilian right and resonably enforcing the laws of our land while having to make split decesion every hour of every day. However this incident should not of happened. The citazen was on the ground, face down and the officer pulled out his gun instead of his tazer. We should all learn from this moment.

-the Shatinator
 
Drone36929 said:
Some of you may have heard of the Mehserle trial (the BART security officer who shot and killed an unarmed man). Now people and businesses in downtown Oakland, CA (where I work), are bracing for the protests that will result in the verdict to be announced next week. My employer has been coordinating with the Oakland PD and other agencies and has sent various communications to employees. Our company allows us employees to take time off (leave early, use a vacation day) in light of the upcoming protests.

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local-beat/Operation-Verdict-Gets-Under-Way-in-Oakland-97502609.html

Having said that, I think some people are just plain idiots and are looking for an opportunity to vandalize and to cause trouble.
Click to expand...

Stay safe. I'll admit I'm glad I don't have any reason to go to Oakland next week. I have one case in Alameda County right now, but the judge is on vacation and we don't have to file anything for another month.
 
Anyone else who works or lives in the East Bay that'll be impacted by this? Given the chance, I'd prefer to take a day off, but I'm running out of vacation leave and have too much work to do. So if anyone gets in my way, watch out ... :evil:
 
Vulcan Princess said:
Drone36929 said:
Some of you may have heard of the Mehserle trial (the BART security officer who shot and killed an unarmed man). Now people and businesses in downtown Oakland, CA (where I work), are bracing for the protests that will result in the verdict to be announced next week. My employer has been coordinating with the Oakland PD and other agencies and has sent various communications to employees. Our company allows us employees to take time off (leave early, use a vacation day) in light of the upcoming protests.

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local-beat/Operation-Verdict-Gets-Under-Way-in-Oakland-97502609.html

Having said that, I think some people are just plain idiots and are looking for an opportunity to vandalize and to cause trouble.
Click to expand...

Stay safe. I'll admit I'm glad I don't have any reason to go to Oakland next week. I have one case in Alameda County right now, but the judge is on vacation and we don't have to file anything for another month.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Princess. At some point we were anticipating the verdict to be announced sometime today and expecting the worst before the holiday weekend.
 
Drone36929 said:
Anyone else who works or lives in the East Bay that'll be impacted by this? Given the chance, I'd prefer to take a day off, but I'm running out of vacation leave and have too much work to do. So if anyone gets in my way, watch out ... :evil:
Click to expand...

Well my dad is a police officer in that county, so I certainly expect he'll be affected....
 
Hopefully nothing comes of this and there's no rioting, but good luck and be careful nonetheless.
 
Thanks, all. I'll be careful. Too bad I can't take my afternoon walks to Starbucks for a few days, but I'll live. :lol:
 
Mr. Laser Beam said:
The Yankees play three games in Oakland next week... :borg:
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Oh noes, not the Yankees! :rolleyes:

The Borg smiley is appropriate because your comment couldn't be any more irrelevant. The Yankees wouldn't be in any danger and if they temporarily cancel the games, who gives a damn if there's rioting going on?
 
Ah, the CA Bar exam is being given in the last week of July. Oakland is one of the locations. Glad I did not choose Oakland.
 
Chaos Descending said:
NuFan said:
He couldn't possibly be found innocent.
Click to expand...

OJ Simpson agrees!
Click to expand...

He could be if the jury buys his story. If they believe he accidentally drew his gun instead of his taser, the defendant claims "accident" and he goes home.

But one thing I noticed was overlooked in this trial. Why did the cop feel the need to draw his taser and shoot this guy in the back with it if he was lying on the ground and complying with orders? If he HAD drawn his taser and shot Oscar Grant with it, would that not have constituted assault and battery by the police officer? And isn't it the law that if someone dies while you are in the commission of another crime, you can be charged with that death as murder one?

Yet, they approached this like it was okay that the cop was going to taze that young man lying face down on the ground. But the tazing was unlawful, so it doesn't matter whether he intended to draw his taser or his gun. He was violating the man's rights and that man died while he did it. Murder.

I really think that we shouldn't be so quick to arm every cop with tasers. They treat the weapon like it carries no consequences and use it much more frequently than they would any other kind of weapon. They don't respect it AS a weapon. And thus, get careless and sloppy with it's use. A very dangerous habit for a police officer to fall into.
 
the Dagman said:
Chaos Descending said:
NuFan said:
He couldn't possibly be found innocent.
Click to expand...

OJ Simpson agrees!
Click to expand...

He could be if the jury buys his story.
Click to expand...

That was my point. ;)

the Dagman said:
But one thing I noticed was overlooked in this trial. Why did the cop feel the need to draw his taser and shoot this guy in the back with it if he was lying on the ground and complying with orders? If he HAD drawn his taser and shot Oscar Grant with it, would that not have constituted assault and battery by the police officer? And isn't it the law that if someone dies while you are in the commission of another crime, you can be charged with that death as murder one?

Yet, they approached this like it was okay that the cop was going to taze that young man lying face down on the ground. But the tazing was unlawful, so it doesn't matter whether he intended to draw his taser or his gun. He was violating the man's rights and that man died while he did it. Murder.

I really think that we shouldn't be so quick to arm every cop with tasers. They treat the weapon like it carries no consequences and use it much more frequently than they would any other kind of weapon. They don't respect it AS a weapon. And thus, get careless and sloppy with it's use. A very dangerous habit for a police officer to fall into.
Click to expand...

And these are excellent points as well.
 
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