At least 86 people have been arrested in Oakland in riots following the reading of the verdict in the Johannes Mehserle trial yesterday afternoon. Mehserle, an Oakland police officer, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the murder of Oscar Grant. According to eyewitnesses and video evidence, Mehserle shot Grant in the back after he had been arrested and restrained by the police.
At least 86 people have been arrested in Oakland in riots following the reading of the verdict in the Johannes Mehserle trial yesterday afternoon. Mehserle, an Oakland police officer, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the murder of Oscar Grant. According to eyewitnesses and video evidence, Mehserle shot Grant in the back after he had been arrested and restrained by the police. Mehserle argued that he mistook his gun for a taser. Downtown Santa Cruz was quiet last night, despite warnings that riots could erupt here as well.
Last month, a flier appeared calling on local residents to take to the streets in protest once a verdict was reached. Police stepped up their presence downtown while people awaited the verdict, and they called on local shop owners to hire private security guards to protect their property as well. Downtown Santa Cruz was the scene of a violent riot on May Day, which left about $100,000 in property damage.
Though the city survived yesterday’s reading of the verdict, police are remaining on alert because of a demonstration planned for noon this afternoon at the intersection of Lincoln Street and Pacific Avenue. The demonstration is planned to protest, “injustice and unchecked police brutality.” Read more at the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
