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Exploring police and community relations in East Oakland
Oakland has just been ranked as having the third highest crime in the country. But there is some good news: so far in 2009, crime has gone down by 13%. Many attribute that to an expanded police presence. There is also a hope that the new chief, Anthony Batts, will reform the department, and increase efficiency.
Today we're presenting the first in a special series about what it really means to live with violence in Oakland, and how communities are bridging cultural divides to forge solutions. So we named the series the Fault Lines Project.
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On September 2, 2009, KALW News hosted a discussion between Oakland police and community leaders about potential solutions to violence in Oakland. Here is Oakland Police Officer Fred Shavies with his perspective on this question:
"There are so many layers you have to pull back, and issues that need to be discussed. There are truths and stereotypes entrenched in the way police officers feel and the way the people in the community feel. I have the opportunity to be on both sides, I grew up in Oakland and live in Oakland still, not that many Oakland police officers who can say that…we also have to remember this is more than just people’s experiences. This is cultural; we are only 50 years removed from the civil rights movement…I really think it's about knowledge and dialogue, we have to learn about one another to coexist. "
You can hear the entire discussion here.
On September 2, 2009, KALW News hosted a discussion between Oakland police and community leaders about potential solutions to violence in Oakland. BJ Phillips, a youth block ambassador with the Urban Peace Movement, says:
"I feel it starts with the youth, basically, because the youth is the future. So if there is more things in the community for the youth to do, instead of just hanging on the corners and stuff, we’ll be occupied. For instance, old school midnight basketball, that was something good for the community, because there are a lot of people in the streets that play ball, and its something to bring us together, it would bring neighborhoods together, playing basketball. I feel thinks like that is healthy for the community. Also more venues and shows to go to, like, there is a lot of talent in Oakland, not just rappers and singers, there’s other things, artists, there’s a lot of talent in Oakland. I feel like there should be ways we could broadcast our talents and stuff, the youth coming out of Oakland."
Click here for audio of the entire discussion.
On September 2, 2009, KALW News hosted a discussion between Oakland police and community leaders on the issue of violence in Oakland. Jakada Imani is the Executive Director of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, and he says:
"People have concrete experiences that they draw from about why they don’t trust each other, it’s not ideas. People don’t live on ideas, people don’t eat on ideas, you know what I mean? So we have to have those concrete, lived experiences of things working out. For me it has been inspiring that the police in Oakland have taken this “we can’t solve it all alone” approach, that’s actually hugely important. The worst thing is for them to say we got this all together. This is a partnership, and we have to do this as a city, and show it can be done."
Click here for audio of the full discussion.