BART Police Shooting of Oscar Grant - Aftermath

Aftermath

Police in riot gear were dispatched and made efforts to disperse the crowds. During the course of the evening, among other peaceful protest tactics, some of the protesters turned to rioting and rampant property vandalism. Black Bloc and other rioters smashed hundreds of car and shop windows, several private cars and numerous trash containers, and dumpsters. Public buildings such as the Oakland Police Internal Affairs office and almost restored Fox Theatre were heavily vandalized. The rioting wound down later in the evening and resulted in at least 105 arrests for suspicion of various offenses. Over 300 businesses were affected by the vandalism.

The shooting and the subsequent riots were covered in regional, national, and international news. Video images of the shooting were widely broadcast and streamed online in the days following Grant's death. Several hundred thousand viewed the videos in the first few days after the incident. Widespread dissemination of the direct evidence of the shooting led to public outrage and protests and fueled riots. The riots highlight the impact technology can have on news events.

Community members and activists decried the shooting incident as yet another case of police brutality. There was a broad public perception that BART Police and the Alameda County District Attorney's office were not conducting an effective investigation. Others were angry that Mehserle allegedly did not cooperate with Police and District Attorney's Office investigators.