Court: Oakland Police Chief Muzzled Investigation Into Rape By His Officers

“If not for the court’s intervention, we have no confidence that correct discipline would have ever been imposed, criminal charges filed, or departmental shortcomings examined.”

Helen Christofi
By Helen Christofi
Oakland Chief of Police Sean Whent speaks during a news conference in Oakland, Calif. In a court filing Wednesday, June 21, 2017. (AP/Ben Margot)

Oakland’s former police chief tried for six months to muzzle allegations that multiple officers sexually exploited an underage girl, and encouraged his department to drop its internal probe of the misconduct, according to a report released Wednesday by a court-appointed monitor. The report, commissioned by U.S. District Judge Thelton Henderson,

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Oakland Protesters Extorted For Exercising First Amendment Rights

Oakland, CA (TFC) – The night of May 23rd, 2015 was an interesting one for residents and activists in the city of Oakland. Nearly 50 people were cited, arrested, or at least confronted by the Oakland Police after an ordinance passed by Mayor Libby Schaaf condemned peaceful protests after 10 PM. Say Her Name Protests started […]

James Job | The Fifth Column
By James Job | The Fifth Column

Oakland, CA (TFC) – The night of May 23rd, 2015 was an interesting one for residents and activists in the city of Oakland. Nearly 50 people were cited, arrested, or at least confronted by the Oakland Police after an ordinance passed by Mayor Libby Schaaf condemned peaceful protests after 10 PM. Say Her Name Protests started on May, 21st to bring

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Zim Shipping “On The Ropes” In Oakland As Activists Prepare To Block The Boat Again

A diverse coalition of pro-Palestine activists and organizations prepare to return to stop Israel’s largest maritime cargo corporation from unloading cargo at the Port of Oakland, costing the Israeli shipping company money and time and hurting its reputation.

Kit O'Connell
By Kit O'Connell

AUSTIN, Texas --- After multiple Block The Boat actions, even opponents of the blockade movement admit that Zim Integrated Shipping Services, Israel's largest maritime cargo corporation, is on the defensive. The next in this series of direct actions, which attempt to prevent Zim shipping vessels from unloading at U.S. ports in a show of support

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Grassroots Resistance As ‘Police Militarization’ Expo Descends on Oakland

While world watches US law enforcement, ‘Urban Shield’ brings defense contractors, law enforcement agencies, and SWAT teams for war games and arms trade.

Sarah Lazare
By Sarah Lazare

Sustained resistance in Ferguson, Missouri — in the face of riot police, and military service members, and war-grade weapons and vehicles — has forced the issue of police racism and militarization into the national and global spotlight. As the summer closes on a note of outrage, forces driving police militarization — including defense

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Activists Block Israeli Cargo Ship From Entering Port Of Oakland

Thousands of pro-Palestinian activists have successfully blocked an Israeli ship that was scheduled to dock at the port of Oakland in California on Saturday.

Common Dreams
By Common Dreams
(Twitter photo: http://t.co/SD6ucHouzY)

Thousands of pro-Palestinian activists have successfully blocked an Israeli ship that was scheduled to dock at the port of Oakland in California on Saturday. The boat had been expected to dock in the early morning hours and protesters had planned to show up at 5:00 am Saturday morning to block the ship. But as word spread that the ship had

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