Berkeley Copwatch

Berkeley Copwatch is the original Copwatch group. We began in 1990 on Telegraph Ave. as an all-volunteer organization dedicated to monitoring police actions and non-violently asserting our rights. Since that time, many Copwatch-type organizations have sprung up across the nation, in various forms. Berkeley Copwatch is based on the idea that WATCHING the police is a crucial first step in the process of organizing. We do not attempt to interfere in police activity or to resist police misconduct physically. It is our hope that, one day, mass outrage at police and government violence will increase to a point where fundamental change in the nature of policing becomes inevitable.

Berkeley Copwatch's Goals:
1) Reduce police violence by directly observing the police on the street, documenting incidents and keeping police accountable. We maintain principles of non-violence while asserting the rights of the detained person. We provide support to victims whenever possible. We also seek to educate the public about their rights, police conduct in the community and issues related to the role of police in our society.

2) Empower and unite the community to resist police abuse. We will do this by sharing information with the community, conducting "Know Your Rights" trainings, sponsoring rallies, supporting victims and other community based efforts to deal with the problem.

3) Encourage people to solve problems WITHOUT police intervention. We want to explore alternatives to calling the police.

4) Most importantly, we encourage people to exercise their right to observe the police and to advocate for one another.

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You are welcome to copy any of the materials on our website and use them to help educate the public and to start a Copwatch group in your community. If you are interested in starting a Copwatch group or program, feel free to contact us with any questions. Although you may find web pages or organizations that call themselves "Copwatch", read through their material carefully.

DEMAND JUSTICE FOR OSCAR GRANT

Please Attend The Trial Of Former Bart Officer Johannes Meserle
COME TO THE ARRAIGNMENT!
Starts June 18th 8:00am
at 1225 Fallon Street (near Oak Street)
Oakland Courthouse

THE STRUGGLE IS JUST BEGINNING!
Last week, Judge Don Clay announced that Meserle would stand trial for murder instead of manslaughter. Basically, the judge is saying that this killing was no accident. While this is an important victory, it is small compared to what it is going to take to get real justice. Now, the question is whether this cop will be convicted or simply set free.

Keep the pressure on! Show up to court! Make it known that this one WILL NOT GET AWAY WITH IT!

GET INVOLVED:
You can show your support for the family by taking some time to come by the courthouse in the next few weeks while the trial is happening. You can also get involved in the ongoing struggle against police brutality.

Oakland Copwatch meets each Wednesday at 523 International Blvd. In Oakland at 7pm. Contact them at 510.548.0425.

Check out the Copwatch Calendar for a listing of upcoming trainings and shifts. We must keep the pressure on. Join us! We know that monitoring the police works as a deterrant to brutality.

FOR THE FAMILY
Copwatch offers our heartfelt condolences to the friends and family of Oscar Grant. We also commend everyone who stood strong and captured the crucial evidence that has launched a new police accountability movement. Numerous people stood up to aggressive BART cops at Fruitvale BART station on New Years in order to document the abuse by police and, ultimately, the execution of Oscar Grant, a 22 year old man who was laying prone and had his hands behind his back when he was shot.

Check out the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNmcaew0qEU&feature=related

Why Is Oakland So Angry?
"Riot is the language of the unheard."
Martin Luther King Jr.

As evidenced by the rebellion of January 7th, the people of Oakland have run out of patience with cops who kill and the politicians who make it possible for it to continue. It is OBVIOUS that criminal charges are justified in this case. District Attorney Tom Orloff has more than enough evidence from the videotapes to justify arresting Mehserle this minute. However, we must remember that it is this same DA who could have pressed charges against any of the officers who have killed our people in the last year. (see the list below)

In fact, it was Tom Orloff who refused to press charges 14 years ago when 19 year old Jerrold Hall was killed by Bart officer Fred Crabtree. Even though the youth was shot IN THE BACK OF HIS HEAD FROM 60 FEET AWAY and in front of witnesses, the cop was allowed to walk. Later the FBI was called in to investigate. You know what? After months of waiting for an answer, the FBI declined to press charges. The investigators in the so-called "investigation" failed to interview eye witnesses including John Henry Owens, the other youth who was detained along with Jerrold Hall. In short, it was a sham then and it will be a sham now.
Calls for Civilian Review Boards will not pacify us. Now that the state Supreme Court has rendered civilian review boards useless, the Bart Board is ready to consider them. Thanks, but no thanks. In the words of TheWho, "We won't get fooled again".

We can not count on the system to give us justice. We can demand that
the cop be tried in court, but we must not limit our movement to depending on the same "justice" system that kills us to somehow make it right. We must build our own institutions and our own alternatives. Let's meet together to discuss and decide on a course of action that will bring us real justice.

IN MEMORIAM

OSCAR GRANT (OAKLAND) 1-1-09 The 22 year old father was shot as he lay prone with his hands behind his back. BART officer Johannes Mehserle

MAC "JODY" WOODFOX (OAKLAND) 7-25-08 The 27 year old who was unarmed was shot in the back and killed by Oakland Police Officer Hector Jimenez during a traffic stop. This officer is the same one who killed Andrew Moppin 8-months earlier.

LESLEY XAVIER ALLEN (OAKLAND) 7-19-08 Police shot and killed him after a chase into San Leandro. He was 20 years old.

JOSE LUIS BUENROSTRO-GONZALEZ (OAKLAND) 3-19-08 José Luis Buenrostro-González, a 15-year-old Latino youth, was shot and killed by Oakland cops.

CASPER BANJO (OAKLAND) 3-14-08 Internationally known artist, Casper Banjo (71 years old) was on his way to the police station near Eastmont Mall. OPD officers shot him to death. Police claim that he carried a replica gun.

ANITA GAY (BERKELEY) 2-16-08 From her home on Ward Street, Anita Gay called police for help in a domestic disturbance. Ultimately, Officer Rashawn Cummings shot her twice in the back.

ANDREW MOPPIN (OAKLAND) 12-31-07 Twenty year old man was shot to death by two police officers who said they "thought he was reaching for a gun" after he ran from a car. He was unarmed.

ROSALYNE MCHENRY (SAN PABLO) 12-25-07 Shot to death in her home after police arrived in response to a domestic disturbance call. She was shot 18 times because, according to police, she possessed a kitchen knife and was approaching her husband.

GARY KING (OAKLAND) 9-20- 07, while standing in front of a store on 55th and MLK.Jr. Way, 20 year old Gary King was grabbed by OPD Officer Pat Gonzalez, tasered and shot twice in the back. He was not even a suspect.