Tale of Two Police Departments - Oakland Local launches OPD project

Blog entry by Jennifer Inez Ward.
Last updated at Fri, 10 Feb at 1:00am.

(Editor's Note: As part of the Inside Oakland Series, Oakland Local is launching "Oakland Police: An inside look at a troubled department." Contributing Editor Jennifer Inez Ward writes about the importance of conducting this investigative project.)

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Protect journalists: Oakland Local supports Newspaper Guild letter to city of Oakland
Blog entry by Susan Mernit.
Last updated at Thu, 2 Feb at 7:48am.

At Oakland Local, we stand in strong support of The Newspaper Guild's letter to the city of Oakland condemning the arrest of several journalists during the Occupy Oakland action on Saturday, Jan. 28.

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Occupy Oakland debates question of non-violence
Blog entry by Susan Mernit.
Last updated at Wed, 1 Feb at 12:36am.

by Irene Florez


The Occupy movement has changed the way Americans view political activism. And there’s a raging debate over what tactics should be used. On Thursday, December 15th, Oaklanders gathered at the First Unitarian Church of Oakland to discuss how best to Bring The Walls Down.

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Federal monitors to issue findings on OPD, Occupy Oakland
Article by Jennifer Inez Ward.
Last updated at Tue, 31 Jan at 6:08am.

The federal monitoring team overseeing the sweeping reform measures of the Oakland Police Department is taking a critical look at police actions around Occupy Oakland.

The monitoring team said in a recently released report that it will soon issue a report on Oakland police and its handling of the local Occupy actions.

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Occupy Oakland rebuffed in attempt to take Kaiser Convention Center, regroups at Ogawa Plaza
Article by Eric K Arnold.
Last updated at Sun, 29 Jan at 8:26am.

Occupy Oakland organizers envisioned this weekend as a “move-in day” which would allow them to rechristen the controversial movement by occupying a vacant building and turning it into a “social center.” Flyers distributed Saturday at a noontime rally at Frank Ogawa (aka Oscar Grant) Plaza announced an ambitious schedule of musical performances, arts & crafts, workshops on foreclosure defens

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Statement from City of Oakland in Response to Federal Court Order Conferring Additional Authority on the Monitor Overseeing Compliance with the Negotiated Settlement Agreement
Article by Oakland Local edi....
Last updated at Wed, 25 Jan at 2:44pm.

The City acknowledges and understands the Court's frustration with the pace of the City's progress to comply with the Negotiated Settlement Agreement. We take this seriously and understand the implications for our community if compliance is not achieved quickly.

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Oakland police 'woefully behind state,' ordered to relinquish some controls
Article by Susan Mernit.
Last updated at Wed, 25 Jan at 7:46am.

Writing that "this Department finds itself woefully behind its peers around the state and nation," U.S. District Judge Thelton Henderson gave significant decision-making powers to the independent monitors charged with overseeing the court-ordered reforms at the Oakland Police Department. 

This decision brings Oakland closer to federal takeover.

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COUNTERPOINTS: The Change In Focus At Occupy Oakland (Community Voices)
Article by Jesse Douglas All....
Last updated at Sun, 15 Jan at 8:25am.

For some months now, our friends over at Occupy Oakland have appeared to be changing their focus from opposing the banking and financial industry-where they began-to opposing the government of the City of Oakland, and, most especially, the Oakland Police Department.
          

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