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San Francisco/Oakland Bay Area
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News from the San Francisco/Oakland Bay Area Director
Beautiful Struggle
There is a mural near our Oakland housing site that is themed “Beautiful Struggle.” It is a rich colorful mural showing the struggle that many folks in Oakland have gone through over the last few decades. Recently, as I have been driving to and from our housing site, I have been taking more notice of this mural and I am also becoming more aware of the Beautiful Struggle of the people in the Bay Area. When I hear about many of the social issues, or racial tensions here in the Bay Area, I find myself being reminded of the Beautiful Struggle.
One recent struggle here that has garnered much media attention, is the recent shooting in Oakland of a unarmed, handcuffed African American male by a Caucasian BART (public transportation) police officer. The community has been in an uproar because the officer has just resigned and no one has explained to the community the actions that they are going to take to make sure justice happens. Last week hundreds of people started peacefully protesting where the man was killed, and then violent rioting evolved. Cars were set on fire and local downtown stores were broken into. The protests have continued and spread into San Francisco, although they have remained peaceful.
It is unfortunate that these protests have taken such a negative turn, because the fight for justice is a beautiful, worthwhile struggle. Many people have been able to peacefully share their thoughts, concern, anger, and frustration both with the City of Oakland, as well as the BART officials. I don’t think rioting is the answer, but I do hope that the struggle continues until justice is more easily achieved.
“Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable… Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
– Andy Fox, CSM San Francisco/Oakland Bay Area City Director
Local Resources
Local News Links
- San Francisco to Start Issuing Municipal ID Cards January 13, 2009
- Helping Hand for Homeless Youth in Oakland December 28, 2008
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