Story by Jennier Inez Ward, Photos by Stefan Armijo

The anger and frustration began building slowly Friday afternoon in East Oakland as word of the verdict spread and settled in.

And despite their disappointment at what they viewed as an unjust verdict, folks want to stay positive in this part of town.

At Youth Uprising on MacArthur Blvd., young people said the verdict made no sense.

“It’s a smack in the face,” said Erica Harris, 19.

Many of the youth at the center said the verdict was unsatisfactory.

“The bottom line is the judicial system failed us,” said Martina Hardaway. “We can’t count on the judicial system. It seems like they’re never going to change.”

Artist Darnell Smith, 19, said he believes justice was not served.

“I feel like the verdict they gave today is basically an acquittal,” Smith said. “Because he’s not going to do any real time.”

While some saw race as a factor in the trial, others disagreed, pointing out that many people from different ethnic backgrounds and economic classes believed the verdict was wrong.

“We all live here together,” Hardaway said. “And everyone felt the same way.”

In the flatlands on MacArthur Ave., 68-year-old Richard Horton stood in front of the Eastmont Barbershop and said he wasn’t surprised by the verdict.

“I’ve seen it before. I’ve been black all my life,” he said. “No one out here is happy about the verdict.”

On the corner of 73rd and International, shouts of “The whole system is guilty,” by a small band of protesters was meet by loud car horns of support and cheers from people driving by.

Standing on the corner, Oscar Guevara, 25, said he decided to protest the verdict because he believed it excuses Johannes Mehserle’s actions.

“There was no justice today,” Guevara said. “The verdict was basically saying it was an accident.”

Guevara, who was “born and raised” in East Oakland, said people are upset about more than today’s verdict.

“The whole system is a set up,” he said. “The police are an armed force for the state and they can never be here to sever the people. They’re just here to serve the ruling class.”

At an AC Transit bus stop on International, Trashawn Franklin echoed Guevara.

“As a black person, I’m taking (the verdict) very hard,” she said. “My feelings are really hurt. I don’t understand why they keep doing us wrong.”

At the East Bay Asian Youth Center, near Oakland's San Antonio neighborhood, deep dialogue on Oscar Grant quickly turned to overall feelings about the justice system and living in Oakland.

“There was a strong sentiment that while this is obviously about Oscar Grant losing his life, it’s also about a system of inequality that exists in the country,” said Peter Kim, a managing director at the center. “A common question that was asked is ‘What if this situation was reversed? Everyone agreed that the situation would be different.”

Kim said he hoped the city will move forward in a positive way.

“My hope is that this isn’t seen as today’s topic and tomorrow we’ll move on to the next item," he said. "We’ve got to figure out a way to turn this into something positive.”

Follow continued coverage of this case on Oakland Local at tags/oscar-grant  and on twitter at OscarGrantTrial.