When it comes to the war in Iraq, every politician backed by big business—from Obama to Clinton to McCain—talks about fighting terrorism and restoring democracy and the rule of law.
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For poor people of Oakland and Berkeley, Calif.—particularly youth and persons of color—there is an epidemic of violence and murder at the hands of the police.In the last seven months, the police have shot and killed four people under different circumstances.
On Sept. 20, 2007, 20-year-old Gary King Jr. was murdered by Oakland police officer Patrick González after being stopped as a suspect in a crime. The Black youth was first tasered, then shot in the back and killed as he was trying to free himself from the cop.
González has a history of murder and police brutality. Prior to killing King, he shot and killed another person and paralyzed a third.
On Feb. 16, Anita Gay, a 51-year-old Black grandmother was shot and killed by a Berkeley police officer. The cop had responded to a domestic disturbance call and allegedly found Gay brandishing a knife—an allegation contested by her neighbors. Gay was shot in the back—twice.
On March 14, Casper Banjo, a well-known Black artist in the Oakland cultural community, was shot by Oakland cops while in possession of a fake gun.
On March 19, José Luis Buenrostro-González, a 15-year-old Latino youth, was shot and killed by Oakland cops. The police say he had a sawed-off shotgun aimed at them. Witnesses say González had followed police orders to put his hands up and was shot while his hands were in the air.
Cops enforce racism and class rule
It is clear that the attitude and actions of the police towards the people they encounter in the oppressed communities of Oakland, and in the San Francisco Bay Area in general, is one of having little or no value for their lives. The number of deaths and their varied circumstances point to a systemic feature of the police departments and not aberrant or rogue behavior.
While the circumstances around the four deaths differ, the families and communities are outraged and angered at the racist disregard for lives prematurely ended by police violence.
In capitalist society, racism is used as a tool in carrying out special exploitation of Black, Latino, Native and Asian peoples, as well as other communities of color. The police enforce laws that serve the interests of the capitalists at the expense of the interests of working people.
A variety of never-ending campaigns by politicians, the courts, the police, the corporations and the media falsely portray the victims of racism and racist violence as dangers to their communities and society.
By depicting young people of color as violent and dangerous criminals, the capitalist system tries to justify the murder of Gary King Jr., José Luis Buenrostro-González and other youth.
The assistant police chief of Oakland, commenting on Buenrostro-González’s death stated, “The officers reacted appropriately and in compliance with our policies when confronting armed and dangerous suspects.”
The feeling in the Bay Area African American community towards the actions of the police was expressed in an opinion piece on the death of Casper Banjo in the San Francisco Bayview newspaper: “The police don’t try to negotiate when they see that you’re an old Black man. They don’t use kindness and, if that doesn’t work, shoot the gun out of your hand—no, they kill you.”
Families of murder victims fight back
The family of Gary King Jr. has been at the forefront of organizing for justice for the victims of police murder. In his organizing efforts, Gary King Sr. has recounted the challenges of raising a young Black man in Oakland.
King Sr. explained that he and his wife, Kathy, were always trying to minimize their son’s likelihood of a chance encounter with the OPD that patrolled their neighborhood, harassing and threatening the youth on the street. Their son died at the hands of the OPD while leaving a corner store after purchasing some snacks.
The corporate media is not an objective reporter of events. They operate in the interests of the ruling class, which has a vested interest in influencing public opinion to support the police against the community.
The news coverage after the death of José Luis Buenrostro-González, reported, “Three gang-unit officers said they saw Buenrostro-González walking … about noon … with what they believed to be a firearm.”
This “objective” reporting is meant to infer that Buenrostro-González was in a gang and armed. The conclusion one is meant to draw is that the police, knowing they were confronting a dangerous person, shot in self-defense.
Relatives of Buenrostro-González strongly reject this characterization. His cousin was quoted as saying, “He was not in a gang or nothing. He was calm, went to school, got good grades, was focused.”
The families of victims of police murder can never be adequately compensated for their loss, but justice can be won. Reparations to the families and the arrest, prosecution and conviction of the cops who killed their loved ones is a struggle that can be fought for in memory of Gary King Jr., Anita Gay, Casper Banjo and José Luis Buenrostro-González.
