Oakland Mayor Blames Crime Wave Against Asians on Defunded Police; Black and Asian Activists Disagree
On 2/11/21 at 9:51 AM EST
As Asian Americans reel from a recent string of attacks in the Bay Area, some in Oakland have accused the city of pitting them against the Black population.
At a press conference in Chinatown, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf addressed the series of robberies and assaults targeting elderly members of the Asian American community. But her remarks quickly drew criticism when she blamed the violent incidences on defunding the police and budget cuts made to public safety, pointing a finger specifically to City Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas.
Asian and Black communities aim to work together after high-profile attacks
By Lisa Fernandez
Oakland Chinatown attack. January 2021
OAKLAND, Calif. - Some members of the Asian and Black communities are feeling under siege after a series of high-profile robberies and assaults in Oakland and other parts of the Bay Area, and they re trying to bridge the hurt and work together in the aftermath.
While some Asian Americans are feeling jeopardized by the brutal assaults and thefts, there are Black community members who feel like they’re being racially profiled in the hunt to capture those responsible.
Both communities have been victimized, said Oakland Councilmember Carroll Fife, who is Black and whose district includes downtown and West Oakland.
Daniel Dae Kim and Daniel Wu Offer Reward to Track Down Man Who Attacked Elderly in California
Celebrity
The Hawaii Five-0 alum and the Into the Badlands actor have asked their online followers to help law enforcement find the thug who abused an old man in California. Feb 8, 2021
Daniel Wu have offered up a $25,000 (£18,200) reward to help police track down a man who brutally attacked a 91-year-old male in Oakland, California.
Cops have no leads on the hate crime, which occurred on 31 January (21) in the city s Chinatown district, but the stars hope their cash will make a difference. They are offering the reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of this man and his accomplices.
We are making Black history: Bay Area activists hope Black History Month will drive racial justice
FacebookTwitterEmail
1of4
A comic book is one teaching tool that Oakland resident John Jones III employs to encourage son Josiah’s enthusiasm about Black history.Gabrielle Lurie / The ChronicleShow MoreShow Less
2of4
John Jones III finds ways to convey small but significant lessons on a daily basis throughout the year to educate his son Josiah about Black history.Gabrielle Lurie / The ChronicleShow MoreShow Less
3of4
John Jones helps son Josiah, 6, with his virtual learning class at their home in Oakland.Gabrielle Lurie / The ChronicleShow MoreShow Less
In the aftermath of George Floyd’s death, communities across the nation reacted with racial justice protests. During this time, artists began immediately transforming the streets of downtown Oakland. Windows and walls were blanketed with murals by Black artists, for Black community members to memorialize the continued importance of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Elisha Greenwell, founder of the nonprofit Black Joy Parade, saw the images of vulnerability, pain and hope sprawled across downtown Oakland but realized they were beginning to vanish.
With Red Bull, Greenwell and Black Joy Parade then created the Artist Lift Off project. Working with Black-owned businesses in Oakland, six artists were commissioned to repaint their work on top of a Red Bull cooler.