Make Oakland Better Now! has become pretty well known for advocating for more cops; it is true that we believe the Oakland Police Department is critically understaffed, and the department needs to be grown to at least 925 officers.
But we know that there are other essential violence prevention elements besides a fully staffed police department. We continue to support a properly run Operation Ceasefire (and we’ll be posting more about this very soon) and we support those programs for which the data proves a positive effect on violence reduction.
So our board members are very excited about this upcoming day-long program at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, and we encourage MOBN! members to attend:
Love Your Neighbors — Help End Gun Violence
When: Saturday, September 21, 2013, 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Where: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 114 Montecito Ave., Oakland (Map available here)
RSVP: Peace, Justice & Hunger Commission, phone 510-893-8630, E-mail episcpeacjustice@gmail.com
Keynote speaker: Fania Davis, J.D., Ph.D., Co-Founder and Executive Director, Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth
Panelists:
- Community Action: Lynnette Gibson McElhaney, Oakland City Council, District 3
- Legislation: Cody Jacobs, Staff Attorney, The Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence
- Public Health Policy: Dr. Randi Smith, Trauma Chief Resident, Highland Hospital
- Restorative Justice: A special guest
Workshops, Action-Planning & Resource Materials
Refreshments and Lunch will be served
This looks like a very profitible and politically predictable way to “assure” and “calm” Oakland citizens, that our elected politicians are “on” this issue.
Of couse, they have been “on” this issue now since the 1960’s, and I am confident that our elected officials will be able to solve this problem some time within the next 50 years or so.
Of couse, another alternative, is simply to listen to what people from the killiong fields actually say. One thing we say is “gee, jobs would be nice.”
Another thing we say is “how will a law stop a trigger finger?”
Another thing we say is “please walk a mile in our shoes.”
I have personally invited each and every one of you to my neigborhood here in Sobrante Park, for our free bi-weekly hot dog giveaway. If one or more of you comes to that, you will be able to speak directly to victims of violence, and perhaps even some of the people who were previously “creators” of violence (like myself).
As some know, 1/4 century ago, I was the person who was hurting others.
And it was not a “law” that stopped me. It was my own moral conscience, combined with a support structure, education, and labor.
Here is where the hot dog giveaway will be: http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Oakland-fences-off-Tyrone-Carney-Park-home-of-2755891.php – right at that corner. I will be there, with some friends from Sobrante Park, and possibly from other communities I am proud to be a part of.
It starts at 1pm, and will run until we run out of food to give away. Seriously – come to our streets, and talk to us. We will stay open late, since we know that your event runs until about 3pm.
Just all hop in a car, and drive across town, and touch the issue with your hands, and see it with your eyes, and listen with your ears, and understand with your hearts.
Don’t just believe me.
See it.
But most of you won’t come.
Those who will, are the people who will cause change. . .
KLT
My Operation Ceasefire is turning sitting ducks into ducks that can shoot back. Armed victims are the plague to criminals.