We need change! For Oscar Grant, for George Floyd, for Breonna Taylor, for every American who has been murdered by the officers sworn to protect us…Īs for the movie, Ryan Coogler handled this topic beautifully, showcasing the life of Oscar Grant and the beautiful aspects of his family, friends, and personality. It is sick and disgusting that we live in a country where police can brutalize American citizens without any repercussions. This film was released in 2013, the murder occurred in 2009, and yet this same exact story is flashed on our timelines on a monthly basis. It is impossible to talk about this film without discussing the landscape of America today. Very effective at what it quickly and succinctly shows, a bullshit and avoidable tragedy.Ī powerful, unnerving film that at times is not easy to watch and packs a hell of a punch in it's 85mins.įruitvale Station is the heartbreaking story of Oscar Grant's unjust murder by the hands of law enforcement. I can't think of a single person who shouldn't see this movie. What a powerful movie with equally a powerful message. 6.This was such an awesome film with exceptional acting and storyline. The trial was moved to Los Angeles because of publicity in the Bay Area. Attorney's Office, and the FBI have an open investigation into the fatal shooting and, at the conclusion of the state prosecution, will conduct an independent review of the facts and circumstances to determine whether the evidence warrants federal prosecution.' Justice Department released a statement Thursday saying, 'The Justice Department has been closely monitoring the state's investigation and prosecution. I have spoken to Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums and have assured him we are well prepared to assist in maintaining order.' Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued the following statement regarding the verdict, 'I encourage Californians to remain calm in light of the verdict and not to resort to violence. 'How the jury saw this and came to this decision is not understandable to me and the family.' 'The family believes that Mehserle committed murder,' said Johnson. He said he didn't believe the jury looked at all the evidence, citing the short deliberation time. Grant's uncle, Cephus Johnson, said the family was disappointed. Regarding the upcoming sentencing, Burris said, 'He should be going to jail for the rest of his life, but yet he very well may get a sentence that does not even require him to go to jail, which would be the ultimate insult and travesty that I can imagine.' He went on to say, 'We recognize, as African-Americans, the system is rarely fair when police officers are involved in shooting African-American males.' We are surprised that the jury came back as quickly as they did and seem to be very dismissive of the murder charge and the voluntary manslaughter.' 'We believe this was a murder case, a second-degree murder. This is a true compromise verdict that does not truly and accurately reflect the facts, and we are extraordinarily disappointed at that,' Burris said outside the courtroom.

This is not an involuntary manslaughter case. The verdict is not a true representative of what happened to Oscar Grant and what the officer did to him that night. 'We are extremely disappointed with this verdict. Grant family attorney John Burris called the verdict a small victory, but also called it a 'compromise verdict' and said it was a step backwards because 'true justice' was not served. As a family and as a nation of African-American people, we will continue to fight for our equal rights in this society,' said Grant's mother Wanda Johnson. Though the system has failed us, though we fight continually, but one thing I know, the race is not given to the swift or to the strong, but to the one who endures until the end. 'The system has let us down, but God will never, ever let us down.

Grant's mother, Wanda Johnson, was visibly upset, shaking out of shear frustration. Grant's family was sitting in the second row behind the media in the packed courtroom. The jurors sat serious and quiet as the verdict was read. The judge had denied a request from the defense not to take Mehserle into custody immediately after the reading of the verdict. Mehserle put his hands behind his back minutes after the verdict was read, placed in handcuffs and taken away into custody. His father was sobbing in the front row behind him. Mehserle sat stone-faced, looked forward and did not cry. The deliberations with the most recent jury panel totaled only seven hours over two days. they informed the court they had reached a verdict. They broke for a one-hour lunch just after noon. The jury begain deliberations Thursday around 8:30 a.m. Mehserle was accused of murdering an unarmed man, Oscar Grant, on a BART platform on New Year's Day 2009. The jury has found former BART officer Johannes Mesherle guilty of involuntary manslaughter.

Fruitvale station trial