Since the mini riot in Oakland, CA, there have been a number of other peaceful protests in Oakland and San Francisco, as well as members of the community and community leaders attending meetings with BART and the district attorney's office. There has been an overwhelming push for the arrest of Johannes Mehserle, the former BART police officer who killed Oscar Grant on New Years day, and now it has finally happened. Mehserle was arrested yesterday in Nevada on a warrant for murder that was issued by Alameda County. The Bay Area now awaits Mehserle's return. You can read more about his arrest --->here<---.

Although this is a victory toward justice, there is still the possibility that there will be no justice for Oscar Grant in this case. Authorities have worries about finding an impartial jury should this case go to trial. Will the jury be able to view the video evidence without police bias? They feel that the level of emotion surrounding the case and the personal experiences and views of people concerning the police will not allow for a fair trial. Will this trial be a repeat of the Rodney King trial, which also had video evidence? Will Mehserle walk? With little faith in the justice system, he could, but I see that being difficult to explain since he was clearly captured firing the fatal shot. In any case, I hope Mehserle now has his story straight because we are all waiting to hear it.

The fight continues as there will be another protest today in Oakland calling for justice. Protesters will stage a "die-in", where they will lay face down on the ground with their hands behind their backs. They have also built a coffin that will also be used symbolically during the protest. Aside from community leaders and ordinary citizens rallying around this issue, UC Berkeley's civil rights activist group BAMN (Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration
& Immigrant Rights, and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary) has also gotten involved in the "movement".

BAMN organizer and UCB alum Ronald Cruz writes,

This is an important first victory for the movement fighting for justice
for Oscar Grant. We can and must make sure that Mehserle and all the cops
who assisted are convicted and that killings like this never happen again
in Oakland. We must continue to stand strong and fight for our demands:

* Jail all the killer cops
* End the BART cover-up—Open a public investigation of the murder
* Disarm the BART Police—BART Police Out of Oakland
* Drop all charges against protesters

MARCH TODAY from Oakland City Hall to the District Attorney's office
Demand justice for Oscar Grant!