Demanding accountability for BART police.

Hi everyone,

I know a lot of us have been really sickened by the murder of Oscar Grant by BART police.

Color of Change is working to try to make sure that BART introduces a civilian oversight board. This seems like a pretty crucial thing to me-- there needs to be some way that cops are accountable to the community they are charged and paid to protect.

I just signed this online petition, you might want to also take a look: http://www.couragecampaign.org/page/s/NeverAgain

I gotta tell you, I keep thinking of the fact that Oscar begged the cop not to shoot him because he had a baby girl-- the cop murdered him anyway.

If you hear of any other things that I could do to possibly help, please pass them on.

xoxo

Nabil

On January 1, Oscar Grant -- already subdued by police and lying face down -- was shot in the back and killed by a BART police officer at the Fruitvale station.

Unfortunately, this tragedy is not a first for the BART police force, which has been accused in the past of using excessive and unnecessary force in two other shooting deaths.

Unlike most police departments around the country, BART police are not subject to a civilian oversight board, despite numerous calls for one by community leaders over the years. But BART has refused.

Assemblymember Tom Ammiano and Senator Leland Yee promised to introduce legislation requiring BART to create a civilian oversight board -- like the boards that have improved accountability and police conduct in other communities. While this is a significant step in the right direction, we must ensure that the legislature passes a strong bill.
Will you join the Courage Campaign and our friends at Color of Change by signing on to our letter thanking Ammiano and Yee for their legislation -- and demanding that the bill provide the strongest civilian oversight possible?