John,
It's been 12 years since Oscar Grant was murdered at Fruitvale Station by BART Police.
Oscar's family is still fighting for justice. They have a meeting this morning with Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O'Malley, where they will continue to call on her to reopen the case with former BART police officer Anthony Pirone to hold him accountable for behavior that led to the death of Oscar Grant.
Oscar's family is asking everyone to call the District Attorney’s office and demand that Anthony Pirone be held accountable.
Will you call District Attorney O'Malley and leave a message before the family's meeting this morning demanding that she reopens the case that involves Pirone's role in Oscar Grant's death? Her office number is 510-272-6222.
If the line is busy or you can't get through, will you tweet @AlamedaCountyDA demanding criminal charges for Pirone?
*Content warning* discussion of police and anti-Black violence
Oscar Grant was shot and killed by former BART police officer Johannes Mehserle. While Mehserle fired the fatal gunshot, several other BART police officers were present and participated in the theft of this young Black father's life.
Officer Anthony Pirone, participated in the detainment of Oscar and his companions, and both officers -- Mehserle and Pirone -- struck and kneed Oscar while restraining him. The autopsy report revealed that Mr. Grant suffered trauma in his facial area and significant brain injury as a result. Pirone also held Oscar down on the platform by kneeling on him until just before he was shot by Mehserle. BART's investigation revealed that Pirone directed a racial slur at Oscar during his detainment.
While Pirone was fired by the BART police, 12 years later, he has yet to face accountability for his role in Oscar Grant's death.
For more than a decade, the Justice for Oscar Grant Community Coalition, representing a broad array of community and religious organizations as well as legal and civil rights advocates, has organized rallies and peacefully protested the unjust killing of Oscar Grant. Black Lives Matter is a partner in this Coalition and deeply committed to bringing as much justice as possible. We stand with Oscar's family and the community in demanding that former BART police officer Anthony Pirone be held accountable for his role in Oscar's death. Please join in this call for justice in Oscar Grant's name.
In love and solidarity,
Black Lives Matter Global Network
