Oscar Grant

The People vs. BART police

Grave Robbery in San Francisco: Protesters Evoke Oscar Grant's Bloody Corpse to Flog their Causes in Gaza, Greece, and God Knows What Else

Two protesters, nine photographers. This is a problem. The Prison-Industrial Complex or the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy or whatever form The Man is assuming these days can rest easy in his bed. That's because the rabble-rousing radical left (aka white kids from the East Bay wearing hankies over their ... More >>

Shoot First: Mehserle Likely Only Bay Area Cop Ever Charged With Murder for On-Duty Killing

Just like Johannes Mehserle, we can't give you a straight answer -- but the former BART police officer appears to be the first Bay Area cop to ever find himself charged with murder following a job-related shooting. Jim Chanin, a veteran Berkeley attorney who has prosecuted more than 20 police shooti ... More >>

S.F. Police Union President: 'I Would Bet My Kids' Lives' Oscar Grant Shooting an Accident

If Gary Delagnes had been the cop working next to Johannes Mehserle when the now-infamous ex-BART policeman shot Oscar Grant, he knows what he would have said: "What the fuck did you just do?"The 30-year cop and president of the San Francisco Police Officer Association said that watching the much-tr ... More >>

Disgraced BART Cop Hires Barry Bonds' Lawyer -- But Don't Expect a Legal Home Run

It was only a matter of time before Johannes Mehserle, the ex-BART officer accused of murdering unarmed passenger Oscar Grant, hired Pleasant Hill-based attorney Mike Rains. While the general public probably recognizes Rains primarily for his work representing Barry Bonds, in local legal circles he' ... More >>

Never Mind Oscar Grant: Cell Phone Cameras May Be TERRIBLE for Social Protest Movements

The only aspect of Oscar Grant's death that inspired cheering was the fact that it was caught on a cellphone camera. Bay Area commentators generally heralded this as a new day for the wonders of technology -- which, we were assured, would be socially empowering. "I have to say, I love cell phone ... More >>

Oscar Grant's Buddies File $1.5M Worth of Charges Against BART

Five pals of the man shot dead by BART police on New Year's Day have filed a claim accusing the rapid transit system of illegal search and seizure, excessive force, and false arrest and are demanding $1.5 million. The claim was filed by lawyer John Burris, who earlier sued BART for $25 million on be ... More >>

Bag the Gag: First Amendment Coalition Joins Defense Attorney in Requesting Nixing of Gag Order in Oscar Grant Case

Now he wants to talk!The California First Amendment Coalition yesterday filed a motion in Oakland Superior Court aimed at rescinding the gag order that currently prevents attorneys in the Oscar Grant case -- People v. Mehserle -- from commenting publicly. In a handful of words, the CFAC feels the pu ... More >>

On the Waterfront: S.F. Longshoremen To Protest Racism, Cops, Racist Cops

Still itching for a fight.No matter what you make of the politics of the hard-bitten types who run the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, you've got to hand it to them for keeping the drum beating. Since the radical left-wing syndicate was born out of the violent San Francisco Maritime Str ... More >>

Oscar Grant Protesters Hope to Shut Down Fruitvale BART Station Next Week

More on the wayA group of East Bay residents protesting BART officials' handling of the shooting death of Oscar Grant on New Year's Day say they plan to shut down the Fruitvale station on Thursday, March 5, during evening rush hour. The effort will mark the first organized attempt by protesters to ... More >>

Oscar Grant B-Day Party at Black Dot Cafe

EKAphotographyBeeda Weeda and friendThe national media attention has pretty much moved elsewhere, yet the tragic shooting death of Oscar Grant on New Year's Day remains a sore spot for many in the community. In death, Grant has become a poster boy (literally) for the case against police misconduct, ... More >>

BART Vigilantes: Protesters Launch 'Tribunal' on Oscar Grant Killing

anyjazz65Justice (or something) is a-comin'Activists upset over authorities' handling of the fatal shooting of Oscar Grant by BART Police Officer Johannes Mehserle on New Year's Day plan to convene an "independent public tribunal" this week to investigate the incident. Handling the tribunal is the ... More >>

Comparing Public's Anguish -- and Reaction -- Regarding Police Murders, Oscar Grant Killing Is Natural, Justified -- and Wrong

As the Bay Area's mood shifts from shock and horror over the senseless weekend murders of four Oakland police officers into a desire for the community to rise up and repudiate this sickening act, we can only measure the moments until some well-meaning soul utters the phrase "a teachable moment." Thi ... More >>

*You* Again? BART Vigilantes' Latest Scheme to Storm Board Meeting Fizzles.

Goodbye vigilantism, hello public comment​Few causes have had the momentum of the outcry for justice that followed the killing of Oscar Grant. The unarmed, 22-year-old black man was shot to death by then-BART Police Officer Johannes Mehserle (who is white) on a station platform on New Year's Day o ... More >>

It's Your Friday Morning News Quiz!

He's frightfully busy...​Resignations! Condemnations! Tribulations! It's your Friday morning news quiz! 1. SF Weekly broke the story this week that former Supervisor and State Senator Carole Migden did what? A. Ran over more peopleB. Cursed a former staffer out on live televisionC. Opted not to ru ... More >>

The Future of Your Flickr Stream

He's frightfully busy...​Resignations! Condemnations! Tribulations! It's your Friday morning news quiz! 1. SF Weekly broke the story this week that former Supervisor and State Senator Carole Migden did what? A. Ran over more peopleB. Cursed a former staffer out on live televisionC. Opted not to ru ... More >>

Legal Weapon

Don Cameron trains cops in how to use force, and then defends them in court when they're accused of going too far.

SF Weekly Letters

Don Cameron trains cops in how to use force, and then defends them in court when they're accused of going too far.

As Trial Begins, All Quiet on Oscar Grant Protest Front

Not today, anyhow​ Jury selection wrapped up yesterday in the trial of former BART cop Johannes Mehserle, charged in the Jan. 1, 2009 shooting death of 22-year old East Bay man Oscar Grant. Not even that process could proceed without controversy: no black people were selected for the jury, which ... More >>

Judge Dismisses Juror For Sleeping During Oscar Grant Murder Trial

A murder trial is no time for a siesta​Anybody who's ever watched trial proceedings in a stuffy, poorly lit courtroom as 2 p.m. rolls around knows it can be tough to stay awake for the administration of justice. But the nap-inducing tedium of the courtroom is apparently proving to be a serious pro ... More >>

Oscar Grant Trial in the News

photo via Flickr/Thomas Hawk​The trial of BART officer Johannes Mehserle, who is accused of fatally shooting 22-year-old Oscar Grant at a BART station on New Year's Day in 2009, is postponed for a furlough day. While we wait for the case to resume, The Snitch looked at how the media has covered th ... More >>

It's Your Friday Morning News Quiz!

He came, he saw, he tweeted​Dude, I don't even know what happened this week. Do you? Answer the questions correctly, mail us all your answers here, and you'll win a damn prize. Onward! 1. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev lost his Twitter virginity this week in San Francisco. What was the rough tr ... More >>

Former S.F. Police Chief Frank Jordan Doesn't Buy Johannes Mehserle's Story

Johannes Mehserle​Former BART police officer Johannes Mehserle may manage to convince several members of the jury of his peers that he really meant to Tase Oscar Grant when he instead shot him dead on Jan. 1. But, with the defense today resting in Mehserle's high-profile trial, the youthful cop ha ... More >>

Baylinks: Parklet Pain, Towing Trouble, & Newborn Blogs

An account of the violent opposition to a proposed Noe Valley parklet. [Burrito Justice]Happy Birthday, America!​How to fight an unjust towing. [SFAppeal]Check out the Chron's brand spanking new bike blog. [Bay Bikers]

Cops Weigh in on Johannes Mehserle

Johannes Mehserle​Today, jurors resume deliberations in the case against Johannes Mehserle, deciding whether the former BART cop murdered unarmed rider Oscar Grant, is guilty of manslaughter, or should be outright acquitted. Based on the subsequent reaction of an angry mob, those 12 men and women ... More >>

Baylinks: Dog Attacks, Serpentine, & Ace Junkyard

Not that kind of serpentine.​Did you know serpentine was the state rock? Well, it might not be anymore. [Burrito Justice]In the wake of the Golden Gate Park dog attacks, runners try to find ways to deal with maniacal curs. [SFAppeal]Hayes Valley rejects plan to erect signs that will tell drivers ... More >>

Who Is 'Oakland Riots'?

​As the jury deliberates the fate of ex-BART cop Johannes Mehserle, and Oakland braces for potentially disastrous consequences, we've got an interesting little story for you. About three weeks ago, a Twitter account called  "oaklandriots" mysteriously popped up and quickly built a following o ... More >>

Baylinks: Mehserle Verdict Edition

​Was the conviction right or wrong? Vote. [SFist]As verdict is read, Oaklanders are leaving the city. [SFgate]Live streaming coverage at [CBS5] and [ABC7]

Oscar Grant Riots: 86 Arrested, Downtown Oakland Smashed

Chris RobertsWell, they did...​After relatively non-violent protests devolved into looting and vandalism with nightfall, police in Oakland arrested at least 86 demonstrators in the aftermath of the Johannes Mehserle-Oscar Grant trail. (The former BART officer was found guilty of involuntary mansla ... More >>

Suspected Looter Leaves Cell Phone in Wrecked Oakland Coffee Shop

Um... Can I have that back, please?​Not since Gizmodo's famed lost iPhone prototype has a drinks patron had greater reason to regret misplacing a telephone. Well, perhaps "patron" is the wrong word. According to the Oakland Tribune, the owner of a ransacked Jitters & Shakes coffee shop wa ... More >>

Mehserle Mea Culpa: Ex-BART Cop's Letter Offers Apology For Shooting Oscar Grant

'I hope the day will come when anger will give way to a dialogue...'​A hand-written, all-caps letter penned by Johannes Mehserle has been released to the media via his lawyer, Michael Rains. In it, the former BART officer offers a long-overdue apology for shooting unarmed rider Oscar Grant in the ... More >>

Young Gully and Roach Gigz Take On Oscar Grant Tragedy in 'What If'

​"How would you feel with your hands in cuffs and a clip to your head/ Would you beg to us?" ask By Area rappers Young Gully and Roach Gigz on "What If," a new single/download from Gully's furious and mournful new, Oscar Grant-dedicated album

FOX Gives Johannes Mehserle National Spotlight During Giants Game

Free who? ​Locals long ago wrote off the dueling "Free Johannes Mehslerle" and "Justice for Oscar Grant" boats in McCovey Cove as part of what makes San Francisco San Francisco. Yet national audiences watching today's Phillies-Giants contest in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series wer ... More >>

Johannes Mehserle Sentence: 2 Years

Johannes Mehserle​The good folks who sell plywood and/or glass had this day circled on their calendars months ago. Today Johannes Mehserle, the ex-BART cop convicted of involuntary manslaughter for shooting dead unarmed passenger Oscar Grant, learned how long it would take to repay his debt to soc ... More >>

New Word Needed For Oscar Grant 'Protesters'

​As all but the most out-to-lunch area residents know, ex-BART cop Johannes Mehserle on Friday received a two-year sentence for shooting unarmed passenger Oscar Grant dead. With the 292 days served Mehserle already has credit for and his presumably good behavior, he could be out in seven months. N ... More >>

Today's Most Popular Stories

​A compilation of the most-viewed stories on Bay Area news sites and blogs at the moment. You're welcome.SF Gate: Columnist Chip Johnson voted for Don Perata, who, he can't believe, lost to Jean Quan in the race to become mayor of Oakland. Quan prevailed after Johnson wrote a week ago that she'd b ... More >>

Killer Mike Is Still "Burn"-ing Over the Oscar Grant Shooting

​ The Oscar Grant saga was an awful event in Bay Area history -- and, uh, we'll leave it at that. But more than two years after the tragedy, Outkast affiliate and overall Dirty South badass Killer Mike still has much more to say on the matter. Over four minutes worth, in fact.

Sizzle & Fizzle: Highs and lows from the last week in S.F. music

​ The Oscar Grant saga was an awful event in Bay Area history -- and, uh, we'll leave it at that. But more than two years after the tragedy, Outkast affiliate and overall Dirty South badass Killer Mike still has much more to say on the matter. Over four minutes worth, in fact.

Johannes Mehserle, BART Cop Convicted in Oscar Grant Shooting, Could Be Released from Jail Next Month

Bad behavior gets you into jail, but good behavior gets you out of jail ... early ​Oakland, prepare for the riots. Only 10 months into his sentence, Johannes Mehserle, the BART cop who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the Oscar Grant shooting, could walk free as soon as next month. Med ... More >>

Johannes Mehserle, BART Cop Convicted in Oscar Grant Shooting, to Be Released Next Week

Released for good behavior ​It didn't take long after the news broke that Johannes Mehserle, the former BART cop charged with shooting Oscar Grant, would be released from jail this weekend, for Grant's friends and family to plan a rally. And if history tells us anything, it is that Oakland should ... More >>

Johannes Mehserle Released, Protesters Remain Calm and Cool

Downtown Oakland had a little peace for a change​Johannes Mehserle, the BART cop who shot Oscar Grant to death in 2009, quietly slipped past reporters and protesters as he was released from jail at midnight. And despite high emotions, the protesters in downtown Oakland remained peaceful -- for a c ... More >>

Oscar Grant Supporters Petition Department of Justice to Investigate BART

The fight continues​More than 500 people have signed a petition urging the United States Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division to speed up its investigation of Oscar Grant's death at the Fruitvale BART station in 2009. Last year, before ex-BART cop Johannes Mehserle was convicted of involu ... More >>

BART Chief "Comfortable" With Officer-Involved Shooting

Shooting in San Fran​BART is still reeling from the effects of the Oscar Grant shooting, with emotions resurfacing a few weeks ago when former BART cop Johannes Mehserle was released early from prison. Now the transit agency is finding itself again in an uneasy position after another officer shot ... More >>

SF Weekly's Evening at the BART Rally

Riot police at Civic Center BART station​At 4:30 p.m. on Monday, a BART train pulls up to the Civic Center platform. The doors slide open and passengers disembark, looking around curiously once they realize each set of doors is flanked by two BART security guards in fluorescent yellow vests. In ... More >>

All BART Police to Get Tasers, But Will They Use Them?

​Over the next few weeks, all BART police will start carrying Tasers -- which they will be required to have on them at all times. This policy has been in the works for years, but in the light of the July 3 controversial shooting, the need for the less-than-lethal guns seems all the more pressing. ... More >>

Kenneth Harding Update: Ten Shots Fired in Six Seconds in Bayview Shooting

SFPD​SFPD released a map today which shows the 10 shots fired in yesterday's Bayview shooting, where police officers shot and killed 19-year-old Kenneth Harding. Harding, who was chased by SFPD officers after he dodged paying his Muni fare, allegedly fired shots at police, who then retaliated wit ... More >>

Graffiti Attacks Cops for BART Shootings

Ouch.​Graffiti on public transit is usually lame, giving riders no aesthetic reward for the mechanics who have to clean it off on the taxpayers' dime. But as I zoomed under the streets of the FiDi this morning on BART, I was caught offguard by the salty wit of this particular statement. Forgive my ... More >>

Johannes Mehserle Cleared of Police Brutality Charges

Free and clear ​Johannes Mehserle, the former BART cop who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the emotionally charged shooting death of Oscar Grant, remains free and clear. A San Francisco federal jury rejected separate charges that Mehserle and four other BART officers beat and hog-tied ... More >>

The Real Life Superhero Files: Motor Mouth

​In this week's cover story, we presented The Ray, a Target employee from Antioch who was arrested in the General Strike march in Oakland last month while acting as a Real Life Superhero. The Ray is far from the only civilian-turned-comic book hero fighting crime or helping the needy around th ... More >>