The sun was shining on a somber event as community members, leaders and families gathered in front of the Alameda County Administration Building on Saturday, April 24, to remember the children who have died from preventable violence.

It all started with a conversation between a school administrator and a representative of the mayor's office about doing something tangible to decrease youth gang violence in East Oakland.

Domestic violence knows no color or religion or economic status or age. It is a fact, however, that 85 percent of the victims of domestic violence are women. One woman is beaten by her husband or partner every 15 seconds in the United States. The clock is ticking. It is widespread and under reported and affects most anyone in any hamlet, borough or community within the city of Oakland.

Last night I spent my first New Year's Eve in Oakland at home with friends in the Temescal neighborhood. Just before midnight, and for quite a while afterward, I heard what I could have sworn were gunshots. A lot of them. From a lot of different directions. But I figured, nah, it couldn't really be.

Nearly 50 community members, mostly from Oakland, gathered last night a public forum at the Women of Color Resource Center in downtown Oakland. The event was in response to the much-publicized gang rape that occurred Oct. 24 at Richmond High School.

Oakland peace activists, safety advocates and criminal justice officials take note: according to a study released today, Oakland's almost dead last in the race towards the safest city in the country.

Today students at the University of California, Berkeley barricaded themselves into the Wheeler Building to protest the substantial tuition and fee hike at UC Berkeley. As of this writing, the standoff continues.

In the early afternoon, YouTube user Kurtjimi27 uploaded a video of UC Berkeley policy striking protesters:

Nearly 50 community members, mostly from Oakland, gathered last night a public forum at the Women of Color Resource Center in downtown Oakland. The event was in response to the much-publicized gang rape that occurred Oct. 24 at Richmond High School.

Valerie Klinker, 19, a participant in the YO! Youth Outlook media project, shares her views on the recent gang rape of a 15-year-old in Richmond, CA:

I was so hurt and heartbroken to hear a beautiful 15-year-old teenage year old girl, who could have been your sister, cousin, daughter, or even a best friend, was raped. Not only was she raped, but she was gang raped, beat up, and robbed at her Homecoming dance.

This brought tears to my eyes. Just thinking of her age and what they could have done to her makes my blood boil. At 15, she is just a baby. It disgusts me that people took pictures of this girl getting raped...

By Nijla Mumin

pick out a dress maybe she likes sparkles purple satin and straps

Angelina Thao, 17, a participant in the YO! Youth Outlook media project, shares her views on the recent gang rape of a 15-year-old in Richmond, CA:

If I witnessed a rape, I wouldn't let it happen. It's so sad to know these scary things are happening. I have always hated rape. When I was little, I saw a movie with rape as part of the storyline. Ever since that movie, I became scared of rape, but it never really clicked in that there is such a thing as rape!

I used to know a family friend who couldn't talk. I felt sorry for her cause when would talk to me, I couldn't really understand what she was saying. My mom told me the story behind her disability...

Oscar Servillion, 17, a participant in the YO! Youth Outlook media project, shares his views on the recent gang rape of a 15-year-old in Richmond, CA:

What were these "men" who raped the 15-year-old girl from Richmond doing? They were being "men", the way they are taught by the artists they listen to, trying to copy their role models, rappers.

In our society's ideology, we are told that to be a "man" we have to be, strong, fearless, in control, and my favorite (sarcasm), "men do not cry". Meaning that if you do not follow these rules, you're not a "Man", you're a woman, or anything else -- gay, for one.

This is how females are seen as less of a person than males, and why people of different sexual orientation are mistreated and judged. Society is scared of losing control over people. If they lose control, they're screwed because next thing you know, people start thinking for themselves and questioning everything...