This letter was provided to Liberation News by Oscar Grant Jr., the father of Oscar Grant III, who was killed by transit cop Johannes Mehserle. Grant wrote this letter in response to the ruling of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that he could sue Mehserle for damages in association with Mehserle’s killing of his son. Mehserle’s attorney’s claimed that an insufficient relationship existed between Oscar Grant Jr. and Oscar Grant III, a claim that the court ruled against last week. Oscar Grant Jr. has served the past 28 years for a murder he did not commit in 1985, while Mehserle, who was seen by the world killing Oscar Grant execution-style, only served an 11 month jail term.
This letter is to inform the world that I, the father of Oscar Grant III, will be suing Johannes Mehserle and all parties involved for the execution of my son. I understand that this may be a long fight, but I am willing and prepared to fight this battle of injustice.
My son, Oscar Grant III, was murdered. He was apprehended by local police, while sufficiently detained and laying flat on his chest, hands cuffed behind his back, when he was blatantly killed. It was completely unnecessary for any more force to be used on my son, my only child; completely unnecessary to take his life!
The former police officer responsible for ending my son’s life, is Johannes Mehserle. He walks free, after only serving 11 months in county jail for this detrimental act. Currently, it’s said that he works as a security guard, protecting the innocent from the dangers of this world…those similar to himself.
Where is the justice in America? Johannes Mehserle deserves to serve the remainder of his life in prison, not just the 11 months he served in county jail! This inhumane incident was that of murder. The camera footage found proves that this was indeed first degree murder.
I will never get to see my son again; nothing will ever fill the void I have inside of my heart, my soul, for the loss of my only child.
If we allow Johannes to continue to walk free after killing an innocent human being, what are we saying to the rest of America? Are we saying that police officers are above the law? Are we saying that a person’s life is of little importance?!
Justice must be served! I stand strong and I stand tall by the side of the parents, the families, and the friends who have sadly been robbed of a loved one in this manner: in the hands of a police officer!
I will fight for justice!
Oscar Grant Jr.
