Hide Your Kids. Hide Your Wife. Hide Your Husband.
Oakland won't be happy.
Johannes Mehserle received a sentence of 2 years, but also with 292 days already served. Considering he is eligible for parole at 365 days, this results in a fairly light sentence.
I will update this post with more information as it materializes, but let the discussion commence!
Update: SF Chronicle reports Protesters massing in Oakland as businesses close.
Johannes Mehserle received a sentence of 2 years, but also with 292 days already served. Considering he is eligible for parole at 365 days, this results in a fairly light sentence.
I will update this post with more information as it materializes, but let the discussion commence!
Update: SF Chronicle reports Protesters massing in Oakland as businesses close.
posted by McTwo at 1:06 PM
45 Comments:
Thanks McTwo, I'm also watching the live coverage. It sounds like the judge granted a new trial for the gun enhancement, then threw out the gun enhancement.
Protest in Oakland is gathering on 14th and Broadway - alot of the stores are already boarded up in anticipation of civil unrest.
Good job Judge Perry. I think he handled the case well. I liked how he referenced the letters he had recieved so acknowledged people's sentiments. However, he also referenced the fact that racial tensions had inflamed a lot of passions. He mentioned that many of the letters had factual inaccuracies.
He seemed to balance the needs of Oakland with justice.
I pray for the family of Oscar Grant and all other families affected.
wow the grant family is playing the race card.
Uncle "Any person of color knows it isn't a real apology."
Yes, Mr. Johnson, ANY attorney would have told Mehserle apologizing earlier to the family is a bad idea. That is a bad consequence of our legal system but it is a consequence of our elgal system. It doesn't necessarily mean Mehserle didn't think he made a mistake or went for his tazer.
Michael Vick got 23 months for dogfighting.
I hate that comparison. And yes, Oscar Grant's Uncle made that too.
the reason is the dogfighting wasn't an accident, demonstrated a real criminal purpose, and was a pattern.
There is more reason in the instant case, which the judge obviously bought, to think that Mehserle did realyl think he was grabbing his taser. that it was an accident and a one time thing.
2:10, You are really dumb, fo real.
McTwo...best topic heading in awhile. Awesome. Kudos. Thankey for the haha!
Could someone please explain to me how a trained cop could not tell the difference between a taser and a gun when the taser is bright yellow?
Title of this post is stupid. It's a played out joke that's bizarre in this context.
When a black man gets shot in the head while handcuffed by a white cop the "race card" is going to get played because that's how the chips fell. Don't be a moron.
Not to be an ass, but he wasn't handcuffed. That was one of the big factual misperceptions about this case.
He wasn't shot in the head, either.
OJ stabbed two white people to death and got nothing; R. Kelly raped a twelve-year-old and got nothing; Michael Jackson molested about 1,000 children and got nothing.
Here you go, 12:09, from the Toronto Star--
Police trainer Dave Smith said there are clues in the video that Mehserle could have mistaken a Taser for his handgun.
Describing the transit officer's movements, Smith notes: "He's in non-traditional firing stance. His feet aren't squared, he's off-balance. He shot him exactly where he would have shot if it was a Taser. If I train you in one skill that involves thousands of repetitions, it's going to be a habit."
Smith suggests Mehserle, who was not used to a Taser, reached automatically for his handgun through force of habit. Although the two weapons feel different, the mistake is not uncommon.
And see the article here describing "motor learning."
Also: (1) both tasers and guns are belt-holstered, hand-held, trigger-fired weapons with roughly the same dimensions; (2) Mehserle had only one month's experience and six hours of training on the use of a taser; (3) the BART station scene was chaotic; and (4) BART police were on edge due to multiple incidents involving guns on BART rail lines in the past hour.
The Toronto Star is a tool of white oppression.
9:14, I will assume your dislike of the post title is as uninformed as the rest of what you said.
Given my very limited knowledge of the case, I don't know that the verdict was wrong. It came down to an issue of credibility, and the judge/jury sided with the defendant.
With that said, mistaking a taser with a .40 or 9mm pistol is not an easy thing to do. My father is a police officer and said that this type of mistake is nearly impossible if you are a properly trained professional (which may be the real issue here). Holding both the taser and the Glock in my hands last time I was home, it is indeed hard to believe someone would make that type of mistake, especially when the consequences are so high. The fact that Mehserle had drawn his taser 2 or 3 times earlier in the evening makes it all the more baffling.
I realize the limited use of anecdotal evidence in making this argument, but next time you get a chance, try it for yourself and see if the difference isn't immediately apparent. There is simply no good or acceptable explanation for this alleged 'mistake.'
I also found the post title kind of odd. For one thing, the Dodson video was outdated the day after it came out. It also seems a little insensitive to invoke it here. I'm sure it wasn't meant to mock poor black communities and their silly violence, but that's kind of how it comes off.
The post title is lame.
There wasn't rioting in Oakland, but it suggests that. It's also a bad rape joke. It's not surprising that Sean defends it, but he's not funny and he's obviously insensitive.
I don't believe he's going to get out at 365 days. My understanding is that CA uses determinate sentencing. He got two years, so he will have to serve two years.
That said, he will most likely only serve 85% of those two years (good behavior). I'm pretty sure that involuntary manslaughter is not eligible for 50% time.
With his credits, it looks like he will have another year in prison to go. I will go out on a limb (a short, strong limb) that it will be served in Ad. Seg.
What is Ad. Seg.?
My understanding is that one of the big impacts of throwing out the gun enhancement was that he would now be parole eligable at 50% rather than 85%. That, however, is based on what they said on the news, so I do not know if its accurate.
"McTwo...best topic heading in awhile. Awesome. Kudos. Thankey for the haha!"
No, "McTwo," your topic heading was racist, particularly when coupled with the opening line "Oakland won't be happy." It smacks of the, "Oh shit, stuff is crazy in the hood!" class and race tourism that made that video go viral in the first place.
8:12,
Don't take this the wrong way, but under that same logic, wouldn't all rap be considered racist? I mean, most mainstream rap is created by millionaires who are selling a canned version of hood life for consumption by the masses.
Also, while it won't change the minds of people offended by this post, I don't think Anthony Dodson minds the ubiquity of his "hide your kids, hide your wife" news interview, music video, song, or related merchandise. Royalties from its popularity have helped him move his family to a safer neighborhood.
My underlying point being: McTwo isn't a racist.
I'm certain Mr. Dodson enjoys the royalties he's garnered from his popularity.
That has no bearing on what was meant by the post title. Explain to me how it WASN'T meant to, as an earlier commenter put it, "mock poor black communities and their silly violence"? All the post title communicated was ignorance of the actual lived experiences of people in Oakland who might be moved to civil unrest in light of the verdict --- which is part of why it's not the same as hip hop.
Also, there's an important difference from saying something is "racist" and calling someone "a racist." The latter isn't a particularly useful way to talk about how white privilege is actually lived in this country. White people --- and I'm one --- who don't want to think of themselves as "racists" need to learn that it's okay to be called out for saying racist shit sometimes.
Yeah, why doesn't McTwo explain to us why he used the title in a post about a black guy getting killed by a white cop in Oakland?
I think the posters above have convinced me that the title is at least a little racist. When I first saw it, I laughed pretty hard. But after reading the responses, I realize that the reason I found it funny has to do with some pretty negative racial stereotypes.
You people all need to chill the fuck out.
http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2008/05/28/101-being-offended/
It was the first pop reference that came to mind in terms of generalized danger in an area which also was at least somewhat lighthearted. I certainly did not have any racist intent, and I did not really even think of that connection until this response. I apologize to those I offended.
My earlier response was not defending my post title so much as pointing out how uninformed that poster's criticism of the ruling was. It is unfortunate that so much of the discussion ended up being about the title of this post rather than the genuine issues for discussion that the sentencing raises.
Again, apologies for those of you who I offended. It certainly was not my intent.
Doesn't cut it for me.
(1) Your original response, after you got called out, was "I will assume your dislike of the post title is as uninformed as the rest of what you said." Now you're implying it wasn't a defense of the post title? You could have avoided this unpleasantness by, you know, thinking about the criticism (which is what most people do when they get called out for doing something racist).
(2) Your "apology if you offended anyone" still doesn't get it. Twice you mention a lack of "racist intent." That's not what it's about. No one's accused you of having racist intent; they've accused you of being unintentionally racist. In some ways, it's a lot more dangerous.
"Generalized danger in an area which also was at least somewhat lighthearted." Why don't you just say, "Poor black areas are scary and dangerous... in a lighthearted sort of way because I never have to deal with it."
That's right McTwo. On your knees. You've unintentionally offended an anonymous commenter by referencing a viral video/song. And really, anything you say just adds to your sins. Repent now.
You're off the hook, McTwo. L'Alex's link to stuff white people like when people are explaining why the reference was racist is definitely more racist. Seriously. How the fuck do you know that any of us are white?
Well, 1:06 did say "White people --- and I'm one --- who don't want to think of themselves as 'racists' need to learn that it's okay to be called out for saying racist shit sometimes."
11:57 AM,
Did you even read the post McTwo is referencing or did you just start foaming at the mouth at the chance to call someone racist?
I wish people at Boalt had a sense of humor, or at least the ability to think before they write.
Let's hear it for race politics at Boalt everybody! So refreshingly boring and typical and a tired story around here.
As a factual matter, poor black areas ARE scary. People who react to that statement of fact with accusations of racism (intentional or otherwise) have obviously spent little time in places like West Oakland.
Godwin's law:
Jews were really scare, too, as a "factual matter." Recognize racist feelings you have and deal with them. Just because you feel a certain way doesn't mean that is a legitimate feeling founded in anything rational.
It is important to recognize that simply because there has been a "pc" backlash and simply because you "feel" scared doesn't excuse racism.
He didn't say black people were scary. He said poor black areas are. Look up the crime statistics for Oakland, Richmond, South Chicago, etc. Those are the facts.
Look I can be racist too. Please see #20.
http://www.funlol.com/15926/Mature_people_truths.html
(p.s. to make it easier for those to find offense, its even bicyclist-ist)
Yeah, 4:23, explain to us how it is "irrational" for someone to feel scared in West Oakland, Richmond, or Bayview/Hunter's Point. It's a tragedy that poor, black neighborhoods are often dangerous. But it's also a fact. Racism may have helped create those conditions, but it certainly isn't racist for someone (regardless of color) to be concerned for their own safety in them.
Recognize irrational feelings you have and deal with them.
"Just because you feel a certain way doesn't mean that is a legitimate feeling founded in anything rational."
I don't feel scared of black people. But I do feel scared of walking by myself around 82nd and MacArthur. That's founded in something very rational, namely, that it's one of the most violent blocks of east oakland. Black people live in these blocks. Maybe we should focus our energy on giving residents of this neighborhood the education and economic opportunities they need to escape it, or to better control the drug trade that's largely to blame for the violence. But we're busy with more important things like calling people racist because they think certain neighborhoods are scary.
okay, so, the posting has summarized the entire back-and-forth above as:
"...calling people racist because they think certain neighborhoods are scary"
i gotta call you out on that bullshit characterization of the racism allegations, as well as totally disingenuous statement of the racist/honest/whatever comments/titles that led to them
sorry, but you've contributed nothing besides obfuscating the discussion
From now on all blog posts should just be headings and no substance since the headings appear to be the only part of the posts that generate any discussion.
I just wish these comments were more like those on Above the Law...
L'Alex and McTwo - Is this the worst moment of your presidency?
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