On January 1st 2009 Officer Johannes Mehserle shot Oscar Grant in the
back after he was already handcuffed and on the ground. Today they
announced that officer Mehserle was guilty of "involuntary manslaughter,
not murder.

After hours of peaceful protesting the energy and
frustration of the crowd became too intense to express in words. In this
video you can see some windows being smashed and people looting a Foot
Locker.

This is a rough cut. More video to come.

After massive budget cuts to education students and community members
decide to fight back against the layoffs, fee increases and lack of
transparency. Demonstrators marched 6 miles from UC Berkeley to Oakland
city hall demanding education reform and an end to cuts.

After the march a group of 200 or so held a dance party which turned into a march after police surrounded them on 3 sides. The group marched to UC President Mark Yudof's office before leading police on a wild goose chase through the Oakland streets. Eventually the group took over the 880 Freeway backing up traffic for hours. Even though commuters were delayed they cheered the protesters as after police beat them, arrested them and escorted them off of the freeway. 175 people were arrested. I happened to get away early after entering the freeway.

On September 24th 2009 Pittsburgh residents and supporters throughout the country (and the world) organize an "unpermitted" march toward downtown Pittsburgh only to be blocked by riot police using LRAD sound cannons and C2 gas (which is a hybrid of pepper gas/spray). Unable to express themselves peacefully by marching the irate crowd is forced to confront police using such lethal weapons as middle fingers, dumpsters, as well as their voices.