Following last week's verdict - when a jury in Los Angeles found former BART Policeman Johannes Mehserle guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter in the murder of 22-year old Oscar Grant - the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights recognized the importance of holding Mehserle, as a representative of police systems and police brutality everywhere, accountable for Grant's death.

However, with the verdict of involuntary manslaughter, even with the gun enhancement, the jury has decreed that Mehserle will receive a sentence of five to 14 years. Given the long history of police brutality against members of our communities, describing what happened to Grant as anything less than murder feels inaccurate and to many, this verdict feels like a missed opportunity to affirm that violence against communities of color, especially when inflicted by the police, is unacceptable.

In response to the verdict, the center has launched an action to make sure that Eric Holder and the Department of Justice will do their part to bring justice to Grant. Ella Baker invites the public to join it in calling on Holder and U.S. District Attorney for Northern California Joseph P. Russoniello to swiftly conduct investigations into the death of Grant and to prosecute not only Mehserle, but former BART Officers Tony Pirone and Jon Woffinden.

Click here to join the call for action.

About Abel Habtegeorgis

Abel Habtegeorgis has been working around issues of social justice for more than 10 years. He has advocated for better recruitment and retention for people of color on college campuses, immigrant’s rights, and a greater investment in education for our disenfranchised youth. He has used his knowledge of public relations to highlight issues around discrimination and social justice while working in the areas of media communication and outreach strategy development for the Mosaic Cross Cultural Center and the Cesar Chavez Community Action Center. Abel has also spoken at the Tommie Smith and John Carlos “Fists of Freedom” ceremony, Young Leaders Summit, and The Conference of Indigenous Peoples. He is also a graduate of the NCCJ Leadership Today program, the Center for Third World Organizing, and has been inducted into the Associated Students “A.S. 55 Club” for his work in student activism. Abel has also participated in a PBS Documentary Series in the summer of 2006 entitled "“Roadtrip Nation".”