Pictured above are the indigenous Danza Mexica Cuauhtemoc who blessed the press conference space with the blowing of a conch shell, singing, dancing, drumming, and the burning of sage.
The scene inside and outside of the court room revealed just how disingenuous was the change of venue order by Alameda County Superior Court Judge Jacobson. Amongst the reasons offered for venue change by Mehserle's defense team and cited by the judge in his order -- besides a non-scientific and racist argument that African Americans in Alameda County could not be impartial jurors, based on a poll that included less than twenty African Americans -- was that media coverage and social justice activism in the Bay Area would interfere with a fair trail for Mehserle. Any reasonable person could have easily concluded that both would be present in any county the trial was moved to when the case represents the first time ever a police officer has been charged with murder for an on-duty shooting in the state of California. The rarity and magnitude of this trial is made all the more clear by the reported
1,000 people killed by police in California over the last ten years, 310 of whom died in Los Angeles alone -- every single one of which was determined to be justified by various police departments, district attorneys, and other authorities. A change of venue cannot hide this simple fact.
A report from inside the court room by community media activists will be forthcoming. The trial is currently set to begin in mid-May, with another hearing on February 19th.
January 12th: Demand Strong Civilian Oversight at Assembly Hearing on BART Police Oversight -
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/12/22/18633424.php State Capital Building
Room 126
Sacramento, CA
January 13th: Anniversary of Mehserle's Arrest Fundraiser for O100 Holly Works and JR in West Oakland -
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/01/07/18634627.php Black Dot Cafe
1195 Pine St.
Oakland, CA
January 17th: The next public meeting of the Los Angeles Coalition for Justice for Oscar Grant will be held at 5pm on Sunday.
Chuco's Youth Justice Center
1137 E. Redondo Blvd
Inglewood, CA
323- 235-4243
Jan 21st: The next meeting of the Oakland Assembly for Justice will be at 7pm in West Oakland.
Continental Club
1658 12th Street
Oakland, CA
February 19th: At the next LA hearing, Mehserle's defense attorney Michael Rains will argue to have Alameda DA's office removed from case and for a reduction in Mehserle's bail even though Mehserle made bail within weeks of being arrested for the murder of Oscar Grant.
Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center
Los Angeles County Superior Court Complex
210 West Temple St.
Los Angeles, CA
