Videos of Oscar being shot in the head by police while face down in handcuffs were caught on multiple cell phones and the videos led to an almost universal outrage. There were protests and riots against police brutality. Stores and restaurants around Oakland still display signs demanding justice for Oscar, some sincerely and others maybe to avoid trouble…
Officer Mehserle’s trial was moved to LA, where he was convicted of a lesser offense than the original murder charge which led to further protest and rioting. The video is hard to ignore. It looks like a cold blooded shooting of a face down, handcuffed man. The videos are probably the only reason he was convicted of anything. Occupy Oakland renamed Frank Ogawa Plaza, the park in front of City Hall: Oscar Grant Plaza. There was a film, “Fruitvale Station” made about the incident.
This Chalkupy was very popular for all the above reasons and we gained some chalkers because of it. On objector said that it was disrespectful because Frank Ogawa (who the plaza was officially named after) was in a Japanese internment camp during WWII.
