Posted on 11/05/2010 12:53:04 PM PDT by FromLori
8:45 AM: As you already know, the city of Oakland's hunkering down, waiting to see how Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Robert Perry sentences BART cop Johannes Mehserle in his manslaughter conviction for the killing of Oscar Grant Fruitvale station in Oakland on Jan. 1, 2009. The hearing just began, and we will be streaming KRON4's coverage live, above, and will be updating frequently. If you live or work in Oakland, please do let us know how the city's reacting.
According to reports, most Oakland stores are open for business as usual, as are institutions like UC's Oakland offices, which sent a memo to employees saying that Oakland police has "advised downtown businesses to remain open Friday afternoon, and we plan to follow their suggestion."
However, some courts in Oakland are closing at noon today, perhaps in preparation for the "A day to honor Oscar Grant" demonstration scheduled to begin at 2 PM today at Oakland City Hall.
According to reports, protesters will remain in the City Hall area until 6 PM, after which they are expected to move to Defremery Park on 18th and Adeline from 6:30-10 PM.
9 AM: As we wait for the decision, let's look at what everyone else is saying:
Johannes Mehserle sentencing puts Oakland on alert reports the Chron. "Many downtown merchants" they say "were boarding up windows. Others had decorated their shops with photos of Grant, an attempt to placate potential vandals. Some offices will be closed some or all of today, including the state Board of Equalization office on Clay Street, which will shut at noon. Some retailers also said they plan to take the day off - including Foot Locker on Broadway, which was looted after an earlier rally."
Mehserle sentence will set precedent says the Ex. "Those seeking the maximum punishment of 14 years for former BART police Officer Johannes Mehserle may be disappointed when a judge hands down his sentence today" they say, in a piece that focuses on the legal issues more than it does on the situation in Oakland.
Community Protests KTVU's Shameless Fawning Over Mehserle says an IndyBay report. "The Coalition for Justice for Oscar Grant held a protest Monday, November 1st at KTVU headquarters in Oakland. At issue was the station's shamelessly biased coverage and use of the airwaves to advocate on behalf of former BART police officer and convicted killer Johannes Mehserle, on the eve of his sentencing in this Friday, November 5th." That's interesting, did you think the interview was biased?
Oakland braces for Mehserle sentencing says KALW. "The California Bank & Trust and the U.S. Bank on 20th Street have both boarded up their windows, as have a few buildings on Broadway and San Pablo Avenue, as well as OPD's Internal Affairs office on the north end of Frank Ogawa Plaza."
Oakland businesses take no chances for Mehserle sentencing reports California Beat, which has a photoset of businesses getting plywood up over windows.
Judge has tough call in Calif transit killing case says the Associated Press, which reminds us that Judge Perry first consider a defense motion for a new trial then listen to statements from Grants family and friends, as well as from Mehserle himself. Lita Gomez said her sister Sophina Mesa, the mother of Grant's 6-year-old daughter, will share a letter she recently wrote to the judge, they report.
10:30 AM: According to reports from broadcast TV and sources in the courtroom, Judge Robert Perry has said that he was "troubled" by the jury's verdict while hearing arguments for a new trial by the Mehserle defense.
According to KRON4, the judge appeared to discount the defense arguments, which centered around a need for a new trial due to new evidence in the case and issues with how the jury in the original trial was instructed, but conceded that he was "troubled."
Youthradio, tweeting from the courtroom, says that today's hearing will go like this: Judge Perry will rule on the defense motions for a new trial. If he doesn't rule that a new trial is required, then Oscar Grant's family and friends will speak (this is called "victim impact"), then the court will take a break, then Judge Perry will read his sentence for Johannes Mehserle.
12:26 PM: Reports are coming in that the sentencing is forthcoming, as, after a break, court has reconvened.
Oakland police is reportedly on standby, and BART says that they are "standing by to carry large loads of passengers out of downtown SF and Oakland by keeping trains long all day. Additionally, the 11 trains that we always have staged for the evening commute in Millbrae and Daly City are available to be dispatched earlier than normal if required."
According to BART, "our goal is to keep stations open, trains moving and above all, our passengers and employees safe." They say that at this time, there are no signs of protests in downtown Oakland.
It is unreal for me that they expect this and let it happen.
Let it burn.
Less of Californiastan to bail out...
It is a shame that when these people give a riot everybody does not show up.
The veridct doesn’t matter, the riots will happen because themobs are preconditioned.
Looks like a 2 year sentence, with time served,, and Probation.
Judge denied new trial, granted new trial on gun enhancement, but effectively dismissed it..
2 years state prison,
gets credit for time already served
292 days credit toward sentence including good time.
12 gauge shotguns loaded with 000 buckshot also work well at placating rioters and vandals. I'd recommend that method as well.
Got to wonder how many showing up for the expected protests didn’t turn out to help Prop 19’s legalized marijuana pass...
And it's a good excuse to “go shopping”.
Plus you get one day reduced time for every day of good behavior. So he should be out in less than a year.
IMHO/ none of these riots are about verdicts/causes but more about some thugs need a new pair of shoes and things like this are a perfect opportunity for those type’s of people to get them.
Plywood sales were thru the roof this week in Oakland.
Folks that remember Watts and Detroit hope Oakland doesn’t join the list of cities that burned for days.
Mmmmm, Mmmmm, Mmmmm!
I’m in socal but watching developments here:
http://newsblogged.com/san-francisco-bay-area-live-streaming-video-news-kron-4
This falls under “What where they thinking?” Having the sentence announced on a Friday instead of a Monday morning is asking for a riot!
You're assuming the potential rioters have day jobs they go to on a Monday morning...?
No, just that they have drunk and smoked their government check by then.
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