Press Releases

California State NAACP Addresses Death of Oscar Grant in Oakland

January 8, 2009

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(SACRAMENTO)….. The California State NAACP today urged California Attorney General, Jerry Brown, to intervene into the investigation of the January 1, 2009 shooting of Oscar Grant at the BART Fruitvale Station in Oakland.

“We have seen the video played repeatedly and the appearance of an intentional shooting is outrageous and yet again shows the blatant disregard that police have for the lives of our young black men,” stated Alice Huffman, President of the California State NAACP.

Huffman further stated, “The tension is increasing in the community and the citizens have little faith that local law enforcement personnel will seek justice. We have informed Attorney General Brown that California law enforcement agencies at all levels cannot continue to look on passively when young African American lives are being violated by the very people who are sworn to protect them.”

The NAACP is concerned about reports that Oscar Grant, a 22 year old man with a family, had not committed a crime or resisted arrest, nor was he armed. It is reported by witnesses that Mr. Grant was lying on his stomach on the station's platform pleading with the officers to not hurt him when he was shot. The bullet entered his back.

Huffman reiterated the concerns of the community, “We see from the last few days of citizens’ actions that this matter is escalating and it is important for the NAACP and other concerned groups and individuals to advocate for criminal charges to be brought against this officer and we need the Attorney General to expedite this case. In the case of possible police misconduct it is most appropriate for the Attorney General to intervene on behalf of the public to insure that justice is carried out in a fair and expeditious manner.”