Police Containment

Oakland Riders Trial Delayed for Months in an Attempt to Chill Public Outcry.

Wendy Snyder, Oaktown Uhuru News
Tuesday, July 16, 2002;

All across the United States, a long list of police have come to be known for their role in terrorizing and brutalizing black people. Two years ago, Clarence Mabanag, Jude Siapno, and Matthew Hornung and Francisco Vasquez, the four the OPD gang accused of planting drug evidence, kidnapping, and severely beating people in the communities in West and North Oakland, were added to this list. We can no longer pretend that these are separate cases of bad apples in a bunch, but must begin to challenge the popularly supported public policy of police containment of the black community.

Right here in the San Francisco Bay Area, police terrorize African people in East and West Oakland, South Berkeley, Richmond and the Bayview and Hunter's Point on a daily basis. Not caught on video tape or witnessed by rookie cops, these incidents are too numerous and too heinous for words. We have to join together and build a strong movement to challenge this public policy of police containment of the African community and struggle for reparations, justice, and genuine economic development for African people.

On Monday, July 15th, the International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement, Poor News Network, SF Independent Media and several of the victims of the "Oakland Riders" stood outside the Alameda County Courthouse holding signs and chanting at what was supposed to be the opening of the trial for the "Oakland Riders," the OPD gang accused of planting drug evidence, kidnapping, and severely beating people in communities in West and North Oakland. However, instead of beginning on Monday, the "Oakland Riders" trial is still continuing its "jury selection" and is now expected not to begin until September.

InPDUM organizer Sealli Moyenda explained, "They are most definitely dragging out this case in an attempt to silence any kind of protest. We're not going to let them off the hook though. We are calling for the criminal prosecution of the four 'Oakland Rider' cops. We also hold the city responsible for this type of police brutality and are demanding a public apology from OPD Chief Word and Mayor Jerry Brown as well as reparations and justice for all the victims of OPD brutality."

Continued Moyenda, " Last year, Jamil Muwwakkil was beaten to death by six Oakland Police Officers, and no one has even acknowledged that there was any kind of wrongdoing. Those officers have remained on the job. It's clear that the city-wide policy for the African community is one of police containment."

One case in point is the story of Gregory Nash. Nash came out to the courthouse to stand with the demonstrators. Nash is part of a class action suit being filed on behalf of the victims of the "Oakland Riders." Nash was brutalized and framed by Francisco Vasquez, the one officer who fled from the Bay Area and still remains a fugitive.

One February night back in 2000, just months before the whistle was blown, Gregory Nash crossed the intersection at 40th and Telegraph and was nearly hit by a van speeding along recklessly. He'd noticed a bag that somebody had left on the bench at the bus stop and had crossed the street thinking he could flag down the bus to see if someone on the bus had left it behind.

When Nash was almost hit by the van, he flipped them the bird in response. The van pulled abruptly into the parking lot in the strip mall near Payless Shoes. Five to six undercover Oakland Police officers jumped out of the van. "Oakland Rider" Francisco Vasquez grabbed Nash by the neck and called him a "Fucking Nigger!" Vasquez kept harassing and manhandling Nash, asking him where the bag had come from. OPD then took Nash to where he stayed and worked as the live-in security for a health care facility. Nash said that Vasquez and his partners proceeded to tear up his room. After that, Vasquez took a bag out of his pocket containing crack cocaine and a crack pipe and told Nash, "This is yours."

Because of the OPD, Nash lost his residence and two jobs. His personal life, he says, was seriously disrupted. Nash vows that he and others he knows will fight this injustice at every turn and calls on others to do the same.

Attend the Wednesday night meetings of International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement's Oakland branch to organize for a massive mobilization at the opening of the Oakland Riders trial and to continue to struggle for justice for the African community. Every Wednesday, 7pm, 7911 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland. Call (510) 569-9620 for more info or email oaktownuhuru@yahoo.com.