After the verdict: Where can you go?

Susan Mernit Thu, 8 Jul at 7:05pm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellabakercenter/3445163753/in/set-72157615905519306/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellabakercenter/3445163753/in/set-72157615905519306/

There's a tremendous amount of positive energy--and fear and determination-- happening around planning for the city after the Mehserle verdict.  Whether people feel happy about the decisions the court makes, or frustrated, many people are going to want to process the event, talk it out, and make their feelings known. (If there is an acquittal, people will want to do WAY more than that. If there is a manslaughter charge with a four-year sentence, frustrations will also be very high. No justice. No peace is very real to many who think this trial was biased from the get-go,) 

But regardless of what the sentence is, there will be places to gather: Local organzations and the city are working together and have set up these locations as Healing Centers/Speak Outs for everyone who wants to get together to go:

.
Youth UpRising
8711 MacArthur Blvd.
510-777-1163

Urban Services YMCA
3265 Market Street
510-654-9622

East Bay Asian Youth Center
2025 East 12th Street
510-533-1092

Arroyo Viejo Recreation Center
7701 Krause Avenue
510-615-5755

Mosswood Recreation Center
3612 Webster Street
510-597-5038

If you know of other places organizations are encouraging people to gather, please list them there--we'd like to build a list to share with OL readers & community. We know, EBAYC, RJOY, Ella Baker Center, and Destiny Arts Center are all thinking about this--welcome change to learn more and share.

 

Coverage of the verdict will continue on Oakland Local. See OL's previous coverage of the Oscar Grant case here. Follow trial on twitter @OscarGrantTrial; follow local news at @oaklandlocal

Coverage of the Mehserle trial was done in collaboration with partners including  New American Media, KALW, Placeblogger and Spot.us.

 

DONATE TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT!

If you'd like to support this project, you can donate here. If you are a media organization that would like to repost this content, get in touch with editor@oaklandlocal.com

 

July 2 update:

Good Morning,
 
My name is Shawn Gullatt and I will be holding a “Safe Place” where people can come by vent, listen, provide solutions after the Mehserle trial.
 
This will be at The Grand Lake Coffee House in Oakland. 440 Grand Ave in Oakland right across from the Lake.
 
 

 

__._Ju_.___

About Susan Mernit
Susan Mernit is the founder of Oakland Local. She is also a circuit rider for The Community Information Challenge, a program of The John S and James L Knight Foundation, and a consultant to non-profit and community organizations. Susan lives in North Oakland, near the Santa Fe school, with her partner, her housemate, a rescue dog named Cazzie, and a yard full of ants. She is an aspiring gardener, a long-time blogger & entrepreneur, and a recovering journalist who's found home in Oakland.
judith katz commented Array ago

Tonight (Mon, July 5) at 7-8:30 pm in Berkeley, there will be a special training by Bay Area Nonviolent Communication co-founder Miki Kashtan focusing on empathic response to charged political situations. The training is designed for people whose hearts are full with the impending news about the jury's verdict in the Oscar Grant/Mehserle case, and are drawn to support the nonviolent response in downtown Oakland after the verdict is announced. For details see: http://www.baynvc.org/community_announce.php