My family occupied the Port on December 19, 2011, my son lagged slightly behind looking at people and costumes; a police car drove slowly down the opposite direction and the officer glared and pointed at my son. My son, who is 10, was confused and frightened, clearly it was his white mother who dragged him to this event and his brown sister who agreed; he had been emphatic about his preference to stay home and play video games and yet the officer singled him out to be intimidated and blamed. He was confused and like any child concerned that he was somehow at fault. I had to explain that many people, police included blame black people especially young black men, for most problems. I had to admit to him that he would likely enjoy less freedom than his sister and I; and that the world (and especially Oakland) is so dangerously unfair that it may not be safe for him to protest and exercise his right to free speech. Children, at least children with siblings, have an exquisite awareness of fairness; James understood that his sister and mother enjoy more freedom than he, but mostly he was sad that a grown man who didn’t know him could so dislike and frighten him.
This officer and this interaction was unique, most of the police I saw at this at this protest were low key and some even friendly. They were professional and respectful, as were the majority of the protesters. Libby, I am deeply concerned that you are proposing to escalate police aggression at these events. The police and protesters live and work together, you do not want violent/threatening confrontations you want dialog and mutual courtesy and respect. Please reconsider you angry resolution against public demonstrations.
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