Oakland Post, Week of May 25 - 31, 2022

Page 1

The Post News Group Endorsements for June 7 Primary Governor Secretary of State Controller Treasurer Attorney General Supt. Public Instruction

Gavin Newsom Dr. Shirley Weber Malia Cohen Fiona Ma Rob Bonta Tony Thurmond

US Senator US Representative (10th CD) US Representative (12th CD) US Representative (!4th CD) State Assembly Member (14th AD) State Assembly Member (18th AD)

Alex Padilla Mark DeSaulnier Barbara Lee Eric Swalwell Buffy Wicks Mia Bonta

County Supervisor (District 3) County Superintendent of Schools District Attorney /Alameda County Sheriff/Alameda County Measure C (Oakland Library Support)

Oakland Post

Rebecca Kaplan L.K.Monroe Pamela Price Yesenia Sanchez Yes

“Where there is no vision, the people perish...” Proverbs 29:18

postnewsgroup.com

58th Year, No. 49

Weekly Edition. Edition. May 25-31, 2022

Tribute to the Mass Murder Victims in Uvalde, Texas By Rev. Dr. Martha C. Taylor

Supporters of Parker Elementary School in East Oakland picket in front of the school April 29 during one-day teacher/Longshore worker strike to protest school closings and privatization of public property in Oakland. Photo courtesy of Oaklandside.

Community Fights to Keep Parker Elementary Open as ‘Liberated’ Community School

By Ken Epstein

Parents, teachers and community members are refusing to accept the decision of the Oakland school board, district administrators and state officials who are backing them up to permanently close Parker Elementary School in East Oakland after the school year ends this week. The community plan is to “liberate” the school and

reopen the school as Parker Community Schools. “We will have resources, programs and classes by and for the community,” according to a flier produced by Parker supporters. “OUSD will call this an ‘illegal occupation,’ but we know this is an effort to decolonize our schools and return them to Black and Brown communities they belong to,” the flier said. Despite public outrage,

hunger strikes, student-led walkouts, community marches and a one-day unfair labor practice strike by Oakland teachers, the Oakland Unified School District is moving ahead with its decision to close 11 schools this year and next year. Four schools, including Parker, are set to close or consolidate at the end of this school year. Continued on Page 8

The Post Newspaper Group sends its condolences to the families of the 19 children, and two teachers who were gunned down in Uvalde, Texas, at Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2022, by 18-year-old Salvador Ramos. The victims, including the gunman, are mostly Latinos. The gunman started his morning by shooting his grandmother who was last reported as lying critically wounded in a local Uvalde hospital. The Post Newspaper Group also sends prayers of condolences to the families of the one person murdered and four wounded at the mostly Taiwanese congregation, Geneva Presbyterian Church, Laguna, California, during its Sunday morning services on May 16. The perpetrator, David Chou, a 68-year-old Chinese man, reportedly was motivated by hate against Taiwanese persons. Chou was taken into custody. Last week, an article appeared in the Post Newspapers on the Buffalo, New York., massacre of 10 persons at Tops Supermarket by a crazed, white supremacist who specifically targeted Black

Full College Scholarships Given to Entire Student Body at 5 Chicago High Schools College for 30,000 students and Parents guaranteed

Pete Kadens, founder and cochair, Hope Chicago. By Brandon Patterson

In February, Hope Chicago, a Chicago scholarship program, made headlines for surprising students at five public high schools in Chicago with full college scholarships.

Parents and students hear hopeful news at Johnson College Prep.

Janice K. Jackson, EdD, Chief Executive Officer, Hope Chicago.

my entire life.” Hope Chicago awarded full scholarships to the entire student bodies — not just graduating seniors — at five public high schools in Chicago in February, awarding scholarships to a total of more than 4,000 students, according to HOPE’s website.

The scholarships cover not just tuition, but completely cover room and board, books and fees, and other related college expenses and can be used to attend any of Hope’s 21 partner colleges in Chicago and throughout Illinois, including

On Sunday, “60 Minutes” aired a special about the incredible program. “I’m still processing those feelings,” said Kavarrion Newsom, a student at Noble Johnson College Prep, one of the schools where students received scholarships. “I’ll remember this day for the rest of

Continued on Page 8

Clergy Rally to Protest Deaths at Santa Rita Jail

Photos below are from a May 25 rally at the Alameda County Board of Supervisors to protest deaths at the Santa Rita Jail. Since 2014, there have been 58 in-custody deaths, including 19 suicides. It is estimated that 40% of those in custody need mental health services. The jail is administered by Sheriff Greg Ahern. The rally was organized by Faith in Action East Bay.

Nineteen children and two adults were killed on Tuesday when a gunman attacked Robb elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. Some of the the victims of the attack: Left to right: Top; Irma Garcia, Rogelio Torres, Tess Marie Mata, Eva Mireles. Middle; Jose Flores, Nevaeh Bravo, Eliahana Cruz Torres, Makenna Lee Elrod. Bottom; Annabelle Guadalupe Rodriguez, Uziyah Garcia, Xavier Lopez, Amerie Jo Garza.

people on May 14, 2022. The focus of the article was on how the sin of evil is hidden in plain sight, not easily identifiable. Evil has no boundaries; perpetrators of evil cut across racial, gender, and socioeconomic backgrounds. The main ingredient of evil is hate which is rooted in an intense feeling of hostility and aversion. While all hate does not result in crimes, a close look at hate crimes is identified by bias against race, color, national origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation gender identities including politics and more. Embracing the Hispanic community, Allen Temple Baptist Church stands in solidarity with the entire community of Uvalde.

When the Latino population increased in East Oakland, Allen Temple began providing on its premises a full-fledged Hispanic Church. Called the Iglesia Bautista De Allen Temple, Oakland, it is fully staffed and pastored by Rev. Isai Hurtado and Pastor Emeritus Rev. Ruben Hurtado. The Oakland Hispanic church has also founded a church in El Salvador. We stand in solidarity with the Uvalde families, school staff, officers, grief counselors, and neighbors who bear the burden of being wounded healers. In one way or another, we are all wounded healers who slow down long enough to acknowledge the woundedness of others. Lord, deliver us from evil.

Rep. Lee Supports Biden’s Policing Executive Order on George Floyd’s Anniversary Rep. Barbara Lee issued the following statement Wednesday on the second anniversary of the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, and in response to a new Executive Order on policing issued by President Biden: Two years ago, George Floyd’s brutal murder at the hands of law enforcement swept the nation. His life was taken from him by a broken, racist criminal justice system. While his death catalyzed protests across the country, real systemic change has largely been out of reach. Hundreds of others have been the victims of racial profiling in the years since, some losing their lives, some making the news, other cases not getting the attention they warranted. On this painful anniversary, my thoughts and prayers are first and foremost with George’s family and community. Today, President Biden made progress in repairing the broken system that led to George’s death with a historic Executive Order to combat police brutality. I com-

Rep. Barbara Lee

mend the president for taking action to promote accountability, raise standards, increase transparency, and reform the criminal justice system. However, this EO alone is not enough. state and local police departments must follow. The Senate must find the political will to abolish the filibuster and pass meaningful police accountability legislation. Black lives and the fate of this nation depend on it. Read the full text of the executive order at https://www. whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/ statements-releases/2022/05/25/ fact-sheet-president-biden-tosign-historic-executive-order-toadvance-effective-accountablepolicing-and-strengthen-publicsafety/.

Correction

Rev. Michael Wakefield Wallace presiding at the rally.

Protesters display the names of those who have died in custody.

Supt. L.K. Monroe

George Floyd

The Oakland Post inadvertently failed to include a response from the office of Alameda County Schools Supt. L.K. Monroe in an article, “Alameda County Educators Call Out Schools Chief Over Unauthorized Stipends” in the May 18, 2022, edition of the newspaper. The omission was corrected, and the Post apologizes for the error.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.