Mehserle’s trial suggests change in law enforcement

originally published by: LA Watts Times
21st January 2010

The recent and first pre-trial hearing for Johannes Mehserle — the ex-Bay Area Rapid Transit officer who shot and killed Oscar Grant on New Year’s Day 2009 — brought out a tapestry of emotion and activity.

The Foltz Criminal Justice Center was abuzz with scores of protestors, media representatives, and agents of the legal system all taking part in the early morning rush. It was an amazing scene considering that the hearing itself was rather basic and bland.

The biggest developments of the day included an announcement of a start to the trial in May, and Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Robert Perry’s insistence of no cameras in the courtroom.

While these tidbits of legal information are indeed critical, they pale in comparison to the acknowledgment that countless legislative barriers make it nearly impossible to fairly and successfully prosecute officers like Mehserle in a court of law.

This reality creates a piercing anxiety in the hearts and minds of everyone hoping for justice in this case. However, if Grant has any chance of being our generation’s Emmett Till — a martyr that inspires a movement for progressive social change — we will need to immediately identify concrete next steps to work on.

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Posted by Alison Leslie on 27/01/2010. Filed under Police Brutality & Killings,Policy & Reform. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry