ACLU-NC Expresses Shock at Oakland Police Attack on Non-Violent Protestors – Demands Documents


For Immediate Release: April 9, 2003

OAKLAND – In a letter sent today to Chief Richard Word of the Oakland Police Department, the ACLU of Northern California, and other civil rights groups expressed “extreme concern, shock, and outrage” over the April 7 police attack on non-violent protestors at the Port of Oakland. Bay Area Police Watch, People United for a Better Oakland (PUEBLO), National Lawyers Guild (SF Bay Area Chapter), and the Paul Robeson Chapter of the ACLU-NC signed the letter.

“We think this is outrageous. Protestors were engaging in non-violent activity when police arrived not to make arrests but prepared to fire rubber bullets, wooden pellets, and tear gas,” said Mark Schlosberg, Police Practices Policy Director for the ACLU-NC. “There is no justification for this kind of police response that resulted in the serious injury of several protestors and innocent bystanders.”

In the letter, the civil rights groups ask several key questions:
“How was the police action developed? What was anticipated? Are officers who ordered the attack going to be disciplined? In these troubled times, what is the Oakland Police department doing to protect the rights of people engaging in protest activity and innocent bystanders?”

Under the California Public Records Act and Oakland Sunshine Ordinance, the civil rights organizations are requesting all police reports, witness statements, general orders and other documents that will help answer these and other questions. Under section 2.20.250 of the Sunshine Ordinance the Oakland Police Department has to respond by the close of business tomorrow.