Protesters gathered outside Mayor Libby Schaaf’s house yesterday as part of a youth-led movement to defund the Oakland Police Department.
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Protesters in Oakland on their way to Mayor Libby Schaaf’s house.
Protesters gathered outside Mayor Libby Schaaf’s house yesterday as part of a youth-led movement to defund the Oakland Police Department.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that a march held at dusk on June 10 brought people from across Oakland together to join in the growing number of voices who want to see police departments defunded across the nation, following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis while in police custody.
Mayor of Santa Rosa Tom Schwedhelm called for “Swift and thoughtful changes to police policies” and the creation of an environment that facilitated healthy community dialogue around reform.
The Chronicle reported that organizers of the protest were urging Schaaf “to redirect police funding toward education and homelessness.”
One of the organizers, Shaylah Ellis,23, a teacher at Skyline High School in Oakland, said defunding the police didn’t mean cops went entirely without funds.
“I just feel other things could use better funding, rather than police getting almost 50% of the (city) budget.”
A mother who brought her two children, aged 13 and 6, to the protests, Jojo Williams, suggested putting the money in the community towards activities for young people.
Outside the mayor’s house, on Oakmore Road, the demonstrators lit candles and held a moment’s silence for the victims of police brutality.
Demonstrators arrived at @Oakland mayor Libby Schaff’d house as they take a moment of silence. #DefundPolice@EastBayTimeshttps://t.co/6acu59QluRpic.twitter.com/z3ef03Xwvy
Ray Chavez (@rayinaction) June 11,2020
Day 13 of Oakland #GeorgeFloyd protest: “We going to Libby’s house!” And “Defund the Police” are the chants as the crowd of several hundred walk to Oakland Mayor Libby’s house to demand defunding.
