Oscar Grant murdered by Oakland police in cold blood

Can we even start a year without something racial happening in this country? I have already spoken about my thoughts concerning the Muslim family that were subjected to fear and discrimination while trying to take a flight. But this is something far worse.

On New Years eve, hours into the start of the New Year, police shot a young Black man. In the back. While he was laying face down. And I bet most in the nation are only learning about this today, a week into the month just like me.

Now some may have seen the highly edited video of this murder, as shown by ABC News and a local television station. I warn my viewers this is disturbing, real, and murder in my opinion.



Here are details that are currently known and visible from the video. Police were called to the Oakland train station reportedly because of a fight. Once there we see that initially 2 officers had control over 3 or 4 men, who were co-operating. The crowd observing the event made the officers nervous, as another 5 officers arrived on the scene. Oscar Grant, 22 years old, is seen standing at one point though it is not clear why. The officers have him kneel and then place him face first on the ground. Oscar seems to be handcuffed this entire time. He moves on the ground and one of 3 officers restraining him places his knee on Grant's neck. As this happens another officer, a 2 year veteran, casually stands back, reaches for his gun and fires into the back of Grant killing him.

Another view of this entire incident can be seen below.

This is raw footage. The key moments are from 1:56 - 2:57 . It is clear at 2:37 that 32 officers, joined by a third, are nervous but controlling a crowd that are busy observing the event and video taping it. At 2:52 you can see the officer draw his gun, with 2 officers holding Grant down, 3 officers holding the crowd (4 people apparently and an unknown amount in the subway car) and I believe one other officer in the background.

While the situation was not pleasant, none of the men on the ground were endangering the officers. The crowd was at a distance. and 3 men were close getting video. One of those men was taken down by one officer, but the rest of them were unencumbered or endanger. I say that both from their stance and the video footage of the crowd.



There is no question of the guilt of the officer that fired. There was no threat. Not from Grant, the other men on the ground, nor the crowd. There were 6 or 7 officers at the location that can be observed, with an unknown amount in transit. While quite vocal, the crowd maintained a wide distance, with the exception of 3 men that were under constant observation by no less than 2 officers.

This was a murder.

A murder committed by a police officer, on an unarmed, defenseless Black man. Again. And some dare tell me that I have no reason to fear the police. That stories about the consistent, coast to coast murder of Black men by police is a lie. That this is just a coincidence.

If all that were true, then why has this taken 6 days to be released to the nation? Why has no major media network covered this story nationally? Why is ABC News providing a highly edited video that places doubt on the cause of this event, when I found several videos of this event on youtube in 10 seconds that are clear on what happened.

The innocent can stand in the light of day, and were this murder justified in any way the police would have made it national an hour after it happened. But it is not. And only now, with the family suing for $25 million is it catching attention.

And I think the family deserves far more. A father of a 4 year old daughter has been killed in cold blood for no justifiable reason. A family has lost a son. There is no proper price, but obviously in California the $50 million paid to Rodney King was not enough to make a point.

How can anyone look at this video, and recall the deaths of Sean Bell, the beating of Rodney King, Amidou Diallo, and so many other events - each year - and not wonder if Black men have bull's eye's painted on their backs that police see.

I am angry. At the news media for hiding this for days. At the police department in Oakland for pretending that there could be any justification for this act. They are claiming the officer might have been trying to draw his taser. If so, once his hand was on the gun didn't he know the difference. Once he drew the gun and saw it, why didn't he replace it. And why did he fire when 2 officers had control of Grant on the ground?

And I am insanely angry at the officer. he is a murderer. He needs to be in jail right now. Because I guarantee if I killed a White man who was on the ground, defenseless, and a father of a child there would be national outrage. I'd be in a jail immediately. And the only question would be if I would get electrocuted. And all that is without a video tape.

Justice in America is not colorblind. Like the news media and police across the nation it seems to be color bound.

Editorial by Michael Vass

In August of 2007 I wrote a post highlighting my disgust at the major news media. That feeling of absolute sickness came from the fact that the major news media could not bear to spend a moment of time to discuss a travesty in the American legal system.

I said in that post

“After 43 years of shadows, lies and looks the other way a semblance of justice has been enacted. This is not something that we as a nation need to avert our eyes from, but look towards. Like slavery (and reparations) we must address the fact that horrible crimes against humanity and these 2 men, Charles Moore and Henry Hezekiah Dee, went unaddressed for decades with no reason better than law officers, the public, and the government in general did not want to think about it. How much further have we really come when justice finally is enacted and the major news media are too timid to shine a light on the dark corner of the recent past that is this nation’s history.”

Now a year and a month to the day I have been given reason to return to both this subject, and to the reprehensible reaction in the major media. Perhaps this time seeing my comments will help give some impact and thought to this mockey of justice.

The most dangerous people in America Part 2 - 4.9.2008.1

This is a reply to a specific and series of comments found at Black & White Blog and The most dangerous people in America - 11.4.2007.1


Soldie,

First, my name is Michael Vass not dude. Please use that as after 40 years of life I think I am at least deserving of that if not the more polite and respectful Mr. Vass.

But to answer your comment, I did not isolate my initial post or comment above to only Columbine. As I stated and is a clear fact virtually every mass murder occurring in a school or college to date has been committed by a White young male. None have ever happened, or even been planned as is known, by African Americans or Hispanic/Latino Americans. And that is throughout the decade of time you wish to isolate my comments to, which I do not.

Thus while same race crimes may be more likely to cause harm or death to a Black male, which is a problem on a one-on-one basis, young White males are vastly more dangerous to groups of individuals. That is to say nothing of those older White males that are predominant in committing “gone postal” shootings, serial murders, and murder sprees.

You go on to mention how homicides are the leading cause of deaths to Black males under 30. You fail to mention that 66.2 percent of hate crimes are enacted against Blacks (according to D.O.J. 2006 reports). Further looking at the data from 1994 through 2004 we see that crimes by more than one offender against a victim work out as follows:

http://www.ojp.gov/bjs/abstract/cvus/race.htm

White victim - 1,555,490 Percentage committed by White - 48.8% Black - 22.2% Other - 11.8% Mixed race - 12.2% Unknown - 5.1%

Black victim - 372,680 Percentage committed by White - 10.8 Black - 67.1 Other - 6.7 Mixed - 13.9 Unknown - 1.5

In addition violent crimes committed by 1 offender are as follows:

Crimes of violence 6,930,880 Percentage committed by White - 62.1% Black - 26.2% Other - 9.3% Unknown - 2.4%

So we get this realization, Whites committed 4,297,146 acts of violent crime against a single person, and 759,079 acts against multiple victims that were White. Including the 40,249 multiple Black victims we get a total of 5,096,474. Thus once we move away from percentages and look at real numbers we learn that Whites are far more likely to commit a crime of violence against anyone, especially other Whites. Again I never isolated my comments to murder; I was speaking of violence and general danger.

Now add in the age component of multiple victims:

Crimes of violence 2,010,170 Under age 12 - 0.3% Ages 12-20 - 46.9% Ages 21-29 - 13.9% All over 30 - 5.7% Mixed ages - 25.9% Unknown - 7.2%

Thus 61.1% of all violent multiple crimes are committed by those at or under age 29. [Single crime age data not found, all data via the Department of Justice records] That is considered young.

So again I say what the numbers prove true, and seemingly leaves some readers feeling uncomfortable, young White males are dangerous.

It is not hateful or mean to state facts. You may not like the facts, you may feel embarrassed by them, but they are facts. There is no dispute of the numbers. And by not hiding behind percentages that sound impressive, we see the reality that was expressed to me on that Sunday.

The truth is that I have never in 40 years heard of a White male shot by police 50 times, or 40, or even a dozen – though multiple Blacks have been (Sean Bell and too mant others). The truth is I have never heard of a Black kid shooting a school or college. The truth is that nooses are used by Whites to intimidate and threaten Blacks (Jena 6). [By the way, as a friend of mine mentioned, what other purpose would anyone – especially kids – have to know how to make a noose?] The fact is that 6 Whites (most of whom were young) raped, tortured and kidnapped a Black woman (Megan Williams) that was avoided by the media. For all your protest otherwise you avoided speaking about any of these events. And for each one we can find multiple events of an exactly similar nature over the last 40 years. These are facts and they are not filled with hate or mean. They are just the truth.

You might like to be told the facts of what happens in America in a manner that makes you feel good, but that’s just sugar-coating. You might be upset that some Whites act in a manner that is despicable. But you have yet to deny or prove me incorrect.

And why is any of this important?

Because America is filled with anger and penalties of law that are motivated by the inaccurate and tunnel-visioned lie of who is committing crimes of violence. Because these prejudices and stereotypes influence our entertainment, politics, and daily lives. Because instead of saying that there is a problem and dealing with it we look to address the symptoms.

If you find me a pain because I’m presenting you the reality that actual numbers back up, and not the prejudiced image that percentages present, I can’t help you.

So now the question is before you, since the factual and accurate numbers state that young White males are the most dangerous group in America what will you do about it? Feel embarrassed and upset with me for telling you the truth, or do something to change the facts?

Major news media cowardly ignores the past - 8.24.2007.1

What an interesting day so far. There is a lot of news on the floods in the mid-West, Michael Vick’s admission of holding dogfighting at his property (though he won’t admit he gambled on the outcome or gruesomely killed dogs that lost), the 82 minutes that Nicole Ritchie spent in jail (real punishment there), and the minor charges placed against Lindsey Lohan (6 felony drug charges were dropped – you can bet neither you or I would get off that easy in the same position). A lot of news indeed, yet a rather large miscarriage of justice has gone unspoken.

Have you heard anything about James Ford Seale? No idea who he is? No idea what I’m alluding to? Perhaps you heard about a murder of 2 Black teenagers in Mississippi in 1964. The case went ‘unsolved’ for over 40 years, and I say ‘unsolved’ because local authorities knew exactly who did it as I understand.

In May 1964, the 2 men were abducted their bodies found 2 months later in the Mississippi River. James Seale was arrested for the murders and the charges were dropped. The case went cold and nothing was done about it for decades. Why? Because Seale was part of the Ku Klux Klan (allegdedly), and so were the local police and law enforcement officers. They just let him get away with murder.

Today, 43 years later, Seale has been convicted and sentenced to 3 life prison terms. Big deal. Wait for it. I say big deal because Seale is 72 years old, has cancer, bone spurs and other health issues. Basically this killer is about to kick the bucket and take his place in Hell next to Hitler and other self-glorified murdering scum, in my opinion. The few years or months that Seale will spend in prison will hardly impact him harshly enough to begin to account for what he did.

Seale kidnapped 2 men, in the prime of their lives, and drowned them in the Mississippi River. Because they were Black and wanted to be treated with the respect the Constitution and life provides. Such a crime and its motivation turns my stomach.

Even worse is the fact Seale will be receiving treatment for his ailments, and imprisoned, on my tax dollars. Were it up to me, Seale would receive a quick and public hanging. Nothing more, Seale would be lucky to get bread and water until that time.

James Seale has lived for 43 years, working, laughing, playing with every freedom we all hold dear without a thought for the lives he took. Seale earned a living, dated (I assume though I would hope that any woman would reject a person I can only think of as refuse), basically lived and now, at the end of his life he is expected to reflect on what he did. Had he been convicted and still in jail 40 years later, I would say he could reflect, but not now.

To say this is a miscarriage of justice is to say that Lindsey Lohan has a problem. It’s obvious and leaves a taste of bile in the mouth.

But, I have yet to see a single news brief on Fox News or CNN. Since 10 am, nothing has been said. There hasn’t been a whisper. Somehow I cannot see the justification that says this is not news. I think the 5 minutes used to discuss whether or not Camilla (the wife of Prince Charles) will show up at some event for Princess Diana, could have been used to discuss this case. This is far more relevant to most Americans. It makes a statement about where we were and where we may go. It highlights how screwed up the legal (not justice) system was, and continues to be. It shows how far irrational and illogical hate can go. It reminds us that as a nation we must always be aware that fear and fanatical beliefs are not just the property of terrorists and lunatics halfway around the world.

After 43 years of shadows, lies and looks the other way a semblance of justice has been enacted. This is not something that we as a nation need to avert our eyes from, but look towards. Like slavery (and reparations) we must address the fact that horrible crimes against humanity and these 2 men, Charles Moore and Henry Hezekiah Dee, went unaddressed for decades with no reason better than law officers, the public, and the government in general did not want to think about it. How much further have we really come when justice finally is enacted and the major news media are too timid to shine a light on the dark corner of the recent past that is this nation’s history.

5 minutes. About as long as it takes to read this post. Yet even that is too much to honor the 2 lives lost one night 43 years ago. Perhaps the news isn’t that James Seale will die in prison, finally, but that the cowardice that allowed him to commit these crimes and remain free still pervades this nation.

This is what I think, what do you think?