2000 San Pablo Ave
Oakland, CA 94612
USA
Please join AFSC and the Stop Urban Shield Coalition to participate in public comment at the Alameda County Urban Shield Task Force decision meeting.
Five members of Alameda County’s Urban Shield Task Force, including AFSC, proposed the abolition of Urban Shield and other regional exercises funded from sources that require a “nexus to terrorism,” as part of recommendations that will be considered at a final meeting this Friday. They cited the “controversy, opposition, and fear” generated by the Homeland Security-funded annual event, which is centered on a massive SWAT team competition in dozens of terrorist scenarios.
In response to widespread community protest against Urban Shield, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors established a Task Force in January to review several questions about the program.
Citing Alameda County’s Emergency Operations Plan, which assesses earthquakes and six other disaster scenarios as more impactful than potential terrorist incidents, the five members called for preparedness to be led by community and non-law enforcement agencies and for a primary focus on prevention of and recovery from disasters.
The final Urban Shield Task Force meeting (agenda) will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, August 25, at 125 12th Street in Oakland(at Oak St., 4 blocks from Lake Merritt BART; 6 blocks from 12th St. BART). Public comment on most proposals will likely be taken between 10:30 and 12:30.
Written public comment may also be submitted before Friday to: carol.burton@acgov.org.
Read the full list of the group’s proposals.
Upcoming:
All Out to Rally Against Urban Shield
Friday, September 8, 4:00 – 7:00 pm
Alameda County Offices, Board of Supervisors
1221 Oak St, Oakland, California 94612