Young Democrats of America Minority Caucus Statement on the Death of Oscar Grant
On January 1, 2009, Oscar Grant, a 22-year-old father and supermarket butcher was shot and killed by a Bay Area Regional Transit Officer on a San Francisco Bay area train platform. Watch the video.
Mr. Grant from Hayward, CA was unarmed. Yet once again, despite the video footage, another police department and officials from yet another city continue to ask us not to rush to conclusions and wait until an internal investigation is complete. The Young Democrats of America Minority Caucus agrees with Dr. King when he said, "Justice too long delayed is justice denied." The Young Democrats of America Minority Caucus demands that the Alameda County Prosecutor conduct a swift and thorough investigation and prosecutes all parties responsible in the matter to the fullest extent of the law.
Many young people, after watching the video, are outraged to see that this type of injustice still has a place in our society. Oscar's fate was not exclusive to the Bay area. From Anthony Baez to Amadou Diallo, from Tyisha Miller to Sean Bell, and recently in Bellaire, TX with Robbie Tolin, young minorities continue to be targets for a few police officers who choose to abuse their power.
The Young Democrats of America Minority Caucus stands in solidarity with the Grant family and extends our condolences to his family as well. If you would like to send your condolences, please sign Oscar Grant's Guest Book page.
The YDA Minority Caucus will be working with civil rights organizations and youth groups to formulate a mass action plan to bring justice to the Grant Family.
