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Come on down! You’re welcome to join the protest; just be peaceful.

That seems to be the prevailing message from civic leaders, community organizations and Oscar Grant’s family, in anticipation of demonstrations following the announcement of a verdict in the Mehserle trial.  Behind the “Be Heard, Teach Peace” campaign is the larger story: the resurgence of non-violence as an appropriate and sanctioned response to injustice.

At a time when the national peace movement struggles for traction and media attention as its supporters respond to international conflicts such as the war in Afghanistan and the conflict in Gaza, local peace organizers in Oakland are flexing their muscles  and finding new life in the run up to the Mehserle verdict.

But the question remains: if adherents to the code of nonviolence use (peaceful) civil disobedience e.g., march without permits in city streets or create their own gatherings outside the sanctioned “speakout centers“, how will the authorities respond? Protesters will face a heavy police presence and some have bristled at what they perceive as a campaign of intimidation, to purposely discourage their constitutionally-guaranteed right to freedom of assembly.  The City of Oakland, the Alameda County Sheriff’s department and the Oakland Police Department have all released statements which indicate that they are investing a slew of resources, training and planning in the event that protests devolve into uncontrolled violence. Every police agency in Alameda County and the California Highway patrol has been contacted for assistance, with other Bay Area police departments placed on alert. This comes as no surprise; a law enforcement response is expected in these instances.

What is unique about this situation is that The City of Oakland will actually sanction organized protests to the verdict.  “We embrace people’s right to express,” the Mayor explained in a recent conversation with Youth Radio.  According to the Mayor, that “embrace” will include the expectation of restraint among police.

An unusual move is that Oakland’s peace movement is being invited to the table for assistance with the strategic planning of possible protests.  For example, the Urban Peace Movement and the Seminary of the Street attended planning meetings at City Hall with Mayor Ron Dellums this past weekend.  This weekend’s meeting was the most recent of several held over the past few weeks, to create five so-called “speakout centers” across the city. The City of Oakland’s Web site — www2.oaklandnet.com — announces the locations of the centers and will post updates on the verdict and civic reactions.

To document the peace process, once again the talented young filmmakers at Youth Uprising have produced a emotionally-moving public service announcement, emphasizing their message that “violence is not justice:”

Many of the local peace organizations have long promoted a philosophy of non-violence, in response to challenging local issues facing the urban community.  So they seem especially well-suited to the current crisis. “An important part of insuring that mass protests are nonviolent,” according to Nichola Torbett of Seminary of the Street, “is the plan to train community members in non-violent strategies and to be a visible presence the day the verdict is announced at 4:30pm with t-shirts that say, “Here to Listen.”

Photo credit: Nichola Torbett

Donald Lacy, well-known in Oakland for founding the LoveLife Foundation after his teenage daughter became a victim of street violence, attended the Oscar Grant townhall meeting this past Saturday. He expressed the Grant family’s presentation on his Facebook page: “Yesterday I had the pleasure of being with the family of Oscar Grant at the Town Hall meeting at Olivette Baptist Church. A dignified family that is handling the difficult situation with Grace and Love. The family asks no matter what the verdict, to express yourself peacefully. Honor the families wishes and the memory of Oscar Grant. Let us come together to organize against Police brutality and all injustice.”

The family has made their opinion clear on many occasions: peace is the answer for those who wish to memorialize Oscar. In fact, Cephus “Uncle Bobby” Johnson, Oscar Grant’s uncle, has been adamant in stating that his family supports non-violence in direct response to the violence of Grant’s death at the hands of former BART officer Johannes Mehserle. On the KPFA Morning Show Tuesday, Johnson spoke at length about the family’s response to the heavy media exposure, the expenses associated with their travel to and from LA, the sudden rise of family support and the political emphasis on preventing escalating violence.

Gerry Dove and model wearing his "Peace and Move Forward" shirts

New t-shirts are appearing around Oakland with the peace message. Gerry Dove launched Peace and Move Forward a few months ago with a message of peace and persistence. He explained that this isn’t a new philosophy for him, “Peace and Move Forward… is a way I’ve chosen to live my life for years”.

Program note: Co-founder Miki Kashtan, of Bay Area Nonviolent Communication is offering a free training tonight, July 8, focusing on “empathic response to charged political situations” at  7:00 to 9:00 pm this evening, East Bay Church of Religious Science, 4130 Telegraph Avenue.

But to underscore the volatility of the situation, Kashtan adds this cautionary note:  “Of course, if the verdict is handed down today, the training will not take place.”

Peace Organizations in Oakland (a partial list):

LoveLife Foundation: PO Box 70351, Oakland, CA 94612 • Tel: 510 ONE LOVE (663.5683) • fax: 510.420.8364

Urban peace movement:  610 16th Street, Oakland, CA – (510) 444-5400

Ella Baker Center for Human Rights:  344 40th Street, Oakland, CA 94609-2609 – (510) 428-3939

Youth Uprising:  8711 MacArthur Blvd. Oakland, California 94605 | Phone: 510-777-9909 | Fax: 510-777-9949

Jewish Voice for Peace: 1611 Telegraph Ave, Suite 550, Oakland, CA 94612| 510.465.1777     |

Buddhist Peace Fellowship:  286 Santa Clara Avenue, Oakland – (510) 655-6169

Peace Action West:  2201 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612 – (800) 949-9020

Pace & Bene Nonviolence Services:  2501 Harrison St, Oakland – (510) 268-8765

Youth Together: 449 15th Street #302, Oakland, California 94612 Phone: (510) 645-9209 Fax: (510) 663-2578

Bay Area Nonviolent Communication:  55 Santa Clara Ave, Oakland, CA 94610 – 510-433-0700

Fellowship of Reconciliation:  Ste 409, 436 14th Street, Oakland – (510) 763-1403

Oakland4Peace:  (cover image courtesy of Oakland4Peace)

Oscar Grant Memorial Arts Project: c/o Urban Habitat / Race Poverty and the Environment / REDI,
436 14th St. # 1205 Oakland, California, 94612 – (510) 839-9510

OaklandSeen Managing Editor Pamela Mays McDonald contributed to this story.