All Photos courtesy of Guerrilla Busfare this really cool Blog!http://guerillabusfare.blogspot.com/ I heard about the rioting in Oakland and it got me riled and thinking on some things and what passes these days as political upheaval. I also happened upon pictures, great ones, I might add of a peaceful vigil and will be sprinkling them throughtout the post. Courtesy of G-Busfare!
So you read about Oscar Grant or saw it on You Tube and now you cruising Oakland with some kind of accelerant, a bic and some righteous indignation dashed with stupidity! Aren't ya? Well think on this, while you running round, with your can of accelerant.
Where was your outrage when rents in Oakland went through the roof? Where was it when so-called Urban Renewal projects crept into minority and working class neighborhoods? When check cashing places, liquor stores and bail bonds outnumbered banks and grocery stores?Hey! You just a stones throw from Sacramento. How bout when Arnold the Governator announced that California was broke! Our credit rating in the toilet, I mean...it was going towards junk bond status not too long ago?
Still got that bic? What about the fact that Arnold got elected by a huge margin as Gray Davis was recalled for trying to deal with the budget shortfall with the car registration tax. Didn't Arnold just propose the same thing four years later?What about the price of gasoline? What about the fact that Gray Davis (D) suggested a gas bank, that California could tap in order to keep prices stable during shortages? Why didn't Arnold tap it? Cause, we never built one.
So houses are in foreclosures, banks have gone out of business, unemployment is at an all time high in California and the rest of the nation as people are losing their jobs and you want to take on the Oakland Police Department and possibly the National Guard in a post 9-11, Homeland Security Patriot Act super armed police department.
Didn't anyone ever tell you don't come to a gun fight with a knife? Never take on an Army with a handgun? Don't ring a bell, huh?
Anger is a gift! But the application of it is a responsibility. Have you protested the police department marching peaceably in front of all the stations and substations? Be careful? They might be in fear for their safety? Have you jam packed the council and mayor's hall? Blew up their phones, faxes, emails, text ed them so much that the networks shut down?
No, huh? Have you got all the Pastors and their congregants to march and call? What about the Mosques and Synagogues? No!
How about the New Black Panthers? East Bay Dragons? Original Black 1 percent Motorcycle Club for those not in the know. No?
So while the world was falling apart? You did nothing but Oscar Grant, a working class, Black dude is killed, by the Police, and now you want to vent your outrage?
No! That's irresponsible and you are foolish if that's what you do or have done! That ain't the way! The City, State and Federal have plans in place to deal with so called Urban Rebellions!
They goad and bait you into re-acting instead of being pro-active!
Fight! Yes! But in a way you can win! Don't just scream! BE Heard! Damn IT!
Now, go home, put the bic away and the can of accelerant in the garage and call the city council.
BE Careful! BE Mindful! BE Prayerful!
Jaycee
