Today, May 19, 2003, is the anniversary of the
birthday of Malcolm X. (See a short biography at "The
Ballot or the Bullet. It's Liberty or Death. It's Freedom for Everybody
or Freedom for Nobody". Malcolm X Would Have Been 78 Years Old Today.
He knew the U.S. used violence hypocritically to defend the interests of
the rich. He knew the U.S. used violence against its own people, against
anyone who resisted, and especially against those it used in literal and
economic slavery to enrich the powerful. (Click here to hear a quote from
Malcolm on U.S. violence and the right of self-defense against it, 239 Kb)
In the shadow of its Police Adminstration Building, Oakland had justice for
one day as people conducted a trial of those who have waged war at home on
the people of the city. The police department employs 600 cops and spends
an annual budget of more than $274 million. The city is laying off
hundreds of teachers of its 48,000 students while spending $12 million
dollars of the general fund to settle police misconduct cases.
Welcome everyone to a birthday party. Isn't this a great day to be out
here fighting for peace and justice? What better way to celebrate Malcolm
X's birthday than to fight for freedom. We've been out here all day on
both sides of the Bay. We started in San Francisco at City Hall this
morning at 9 AM talking about budget cuts and about how all our resources
for our families go to fight the wars and there's nothing in it for us.
Then we marched to the Israeli consulate. (Nine were arrested there for
refusal to disperse.) Now we're here talking in front of the OPD. No more
State violence, right!
A judge appeared and swore in the crowd as jurors. The people would hear the
evidence against those in Oakland charged with crimes against the people.