2012 East Oakland Project Blogs
A Day in the Life of Lam Vo
By Debora Gordon Lam ended a recent letter with “Write me when you find the time. I certainly have all the time in the world to wait.” This prompted me to ask him what it […]
OPD
2012 East Oakland Project Blogs
To a Cop On a Chase, a Stolen Car May Be Worth More Than Your Life
By Ronald Owens What’s more valuable, your life or a stolen vehicle? To most people, that’s probably a no-brainer. Your life, of course. Let’s rephrase the question. What’s more valuable to a police officer chasing […]
2012 East Oakland Project Blogs
Looking at Lam & What Needs to Be Done
By Debora Gordon Lam was, and perhaps still is, a young man with a lot of potential. He could have gone on to lead a life of commonplace trials and triumphs; having a family, a job […]
2012 East Oakland Project Blogs
School-to-Prison Pipeline
By Debora Gordon Every time a student does poorly in school, or drops out, there is likely a great increase in the chances he will wind up in prison. I recall in my discussion with […]
2012 East Oakland Project Blogs
Going to Prison, Part II: Getting In, the Visiting Room, and Lockdown
By Debora Gordon After my visit with Lt. Smith, I had some time to kill that Friday evening in Delano, California. While there may be more than meets the tourist eye, what the casual passer-through […]
2012 East Oakland Project Blogs
Going to Prison, Part I
By Debora Gordon I drove down to visit Lam in the Kern Valley State Prison (KVSP) the weekend of December 7ththrough December 10th. I checked in by phone and email with the Public Information Officer, […]
2012 East Oakland Project Blogs
Reactions: Cop-on-Black vs. Black-on-Black
It seems that if you’re not killed by a cop, you’re a just a garden variety homicide victim. People don’t get too upset. You might get an impromptu curbside memorial. The local TV news might mention the killing in passing. And then, the victim of the day will be forgotten until the next man, woman, or child gets shot and killed. People seem to get up in arms only if a cop does the killing, à la Oscar Grant or Alan Blueford. If it’s black on black, it’s business as usual. But if it’s cop on black – oh, damn, it’s on! […]
2012 East Oakland Project Blogs
‘Negroes With Guns:’ My Black Panther Reeducation
Today, mainstream media depicts a Panther demise into pimping, drug-dealing and gangbanging, but that history is questioned and should not remain as the Party’s legacy. In 1968, the police were the soldiers of a racist system and acted with impunity. The Panthers offered black communities much-needed protection, and through good works like teaching and feeding children, empowered and mobilized people to stand up against racial violence and rampant police brutality. […]
2012 East Oakland Project Blogs
Re-Occupy The Movement’s Progressive Roots
By Debora Gordon I went to the beginning of the commemorative Occupy Oakland event on October 25th. I chose to go early and left before dark for two reasons. The more compelling was a lack […]
2012 East Oakland Project Blogs
Cease Fire Redux: Oakland Relaunches Crime Plan, This Time with Broad Coalition
By Howard Dyckoff Oaklanders are marching to demand an end to gun violence. There have been youth rallies, peace marches and on-going night walks in the most violence-plagued areas of East Oakland. Many of these […]