Cries of “An injury to one is an injury to all,” “Justice is an American value,”  and “No justice, no peace,” were heard throughout Oakland's Frank Ogawa (City Hall) Plaza on Saturday. The threat of impending rainfall did not deter hundreds of people from showing up and calling out for justice. Longshoremen, warehouse workers, teachers' union representatives, service employees and teamsters' banners could be seen scattered among signs declaring “I am/ we are Oscar Grant.”

The rally fell just two weeks before the sentencing of Johannes Mehserle, the police officer convicted of killing unarmed transit rider, Oscar Grant. Today, labor and community activists, organizers and community came together in front of Oakland City Hall to demand justice for Oscar Grant as well as for all victims of police brutality. The significance and historic context of this rally does not simply signify unification; this reminds us that the shutdown and work stoppage of the ports in the Bay Area have previously and can in the future be employed as a tactic to call for justice.

ILWU workers in attendance, whether official spokespeople or not, were quick to point out that there are only four days per year that they normally do not work. That is, unless they meet and agree to withhold work, which they have been compelled to do previously in cases of grave injustice, like the onslaught of the war in Iraq. The upcoming sentencing of the officer convicted of police brutality, which is the ultimate violation of civil rights - murder - is one such instance.

ILWU Local 10 executive board member, Clarence Thomas, easily and enthusiastically shouted out the name of a half dozen ports where ships were not unloaded today in a substantial sign of solidarity with the family of Oscar Grant.

Various speakers alluded to the idea that the death of Oscar Grant may be the rebirth of a movement to end police brutality. Statements of support read at Saturday’s rally came from British Parliament and various other international government entities,  as well as from Mumia Abu-Jamal, who has been pleading his innocence from Death Row for over 25 years now.

Cheers and fists went up as the audience was reminded to come back out on November 5th, 2010, the date currently on record as sentencing day for former officer Mehserle.

Rain began to fall, but cries for justice remained until the last speaker spoke as planned.

About Oriana Bolden

Oriana Bolden is a community organizer-turned-filmmaker-turned-non-profit management professional-turned-television news reporter-turned medical school student-turned-video production instructor-turned-filmmaker. She is currently posing as a multi-media journalist.