Oakland Rioting

What's in the bag???

When I got home from work tonight I noticed the helicopters hovering around Downtown Oakland. After a few straight hours of their circling I decided to pick up my camera and head out. I was on a mission to shoot some action. I'd leave early after getting attacked.


The rioting started in response to the fatal shooting of Oscar Grant. Ron Dellums tried to calm the crowd down when they reached Oakland City Hall, but they boo'd him into silence, and then promptly continued to move through downtown, smashing cars and window shops the entire way. The crowd was no more than 100 people, and about 30 of them did most of the damage. The riot police followed some distance behind, with only the helicopters really trying to stay on top of them.

I figured I'd get ahead of most of the crowd, and shoot the violence as it came to me. Well, come to me it did, and I found myself being grabbed by some people drunk off of their asses. I had seen these guys earlier, and should've known to stay further away from them. But there wasn't much I could do once they came up on me - when I was punched in the face (yeah), it was time to break free and run. I heard the shouting behind me "get that camera guy!" and the footsteps followed. Luckily I guess I can still run pretty fast - after a few blocks only 3 were still left chasing me. By then I had circled back toward the riot police and felt safe enough to start walking. I was happiest that my camera hadn't been smashed or stolen...Next time I'll be a little less conspicuous and try to convince someone to go with me (Al?).

In the mean time, people who come out tonight or tomorrow and find that their car has been smashed to shit or that their shop windows have been...well, also smashed to shit are going to be pissed. Ultimately, the violence I witnessed was a worthless show of aggression perpetrated by not-well-spoken people. No surprise I suppose. But then again...