Malcolm X Grassroots Movement is an organization

of Afrikans in America/New Afrikans whose mission

is to defend our peoples human rights and promote
self-determination. With an understanding of the
collective institutions of white-supremacy, patriar-
chy and capitalism at the root of the Afrikan peo-
ples oppression, MXGM strives to build community
control and self-determination as a human right
and a solution to colonization. MXGM is building
a network of Black/New Afrikan activists and orga-
nizers committed to the protracted struggle for the
liberation of the New Afrikan Nation - By Any Means
Necessary!
MXGM.org
Contributions Towards
A Way Forward:
Open Letters to the
Oscar Grant Justice Movement
By KALI AKUNO
Director of Education, Training & Field
Operations US Human Rights Network
National Organizer Malcolm X Grassroots Movement
An Open Letter to the Justice for
Oscar Grant Movement:
Suggestions on Next Steps, Strategy and Unity
Building
The righteous anger and indignation on graphic display
in Oakland, California Thursday, July 8th at the mockery
of justice rewarded to Johannes Mehserle for murdering
Oscar Grant and the open collaboration of several non-
proft organizations with the government to contain
and delegitimatize the peoples resistance is a clarion
call. Its a call not just for justice for Oscar Grant and
the countless victims of police terror, but for radical,
systemic change. The anger, and its focus, indicates a
heightened awareness on behalf of a new generation
of working class Black, Latino and Asian youth of the
intractable contradictions between the imperialist state
and oppressed peoples and the willingness to challenge
them.
A new phase of development and a new set of
challenges now confront the movement to win justice
for Oscar Grant. The inexperience of the youth forces
engaged and the current weaknesses and fragmentation
of the left make this a very, very delicate time. If certain conversations arent had, if certain lessons of the past
and present arent incorporated, and if certain contradictions arent addressed, then all of the radiant energy
on display July 8th could easily fade, or just as easily turn its wrath in upon itself and miss its true target.
This small contribution is an attempt to help ignite conversation, share refections from critical movements of
the past, and ofer suggestions in the hope of helping to facilitate strategic and programmatic development
within the movement.
On Next Steps and Organizing Orientation
1. Joint Refection: to move the Justice for Oscar Grant Movement forward progressive forces focused on
building the democratic mass movement, should join forces and come together to assess the strengths
and weaknesses of the Justice for Oscar Grant Movement over the past year and half. One of the two main
objectives of such collaboration, in the short term, would be to produce a joint assessment and a unifed
set of demands, both tactical and strategic, to help anchor the movement in its next phase of struggle.
2. Joint Assessment: This assessment should be issued as a statement and/or document that provides a
clear analysis of the movements weaknesses and errors and some strong points of orientation to try and
anchor, sustain, and guide it going forward. Some key points of assessment should include (but not be
limited to) the following:
a. A frm condemnation of collaboration and opportunism; but avoiding personalized vilifcation of the
social forces that collaborated (being mindful of the lessons of COINTELPRO)
Contributions Towards A Way Forward 2
CERD Task Force
Focus: Supports National and Local Implementation for CERD and Monitors Compliance
Passage of National Resolutions in support of National Action Plan
Compliance with CERD Concluding Observations
Racial Justice Working Group
Focus: Direct Action Organizing and Popular Education
Racial Justice Rapid Response Network
CERD Sub-Group of the Blueprint Campaign
Focus: Political Education and Lobbying at the Congressional level
Re-Establish the Inter-agency on Human Rights
Transforming the Civil Rights Commission to the Human Rights Commission
Taking the Lead
The USHRN is taking the lead network is helping to coordinate the work of these groups in support of the
National Action Plan on Racial Justice. We encourage you to become part of this important moment and get
involved in one of our core working groups.
In an efort to facilitate a national network/body dedicated to racial justice and human rights, we are reaching
out to you because you have demonstrated a consistent commitment to those issues. Moreover, we have
come recognize that a racial justice agenda informed by the moral and legal obligations represented
by ICERD and the broader human rights framework will not become a centerpiece of national discourse
or appear on the agenda of decision-makers without an organized force willing to organize, educate and
agitate for that agenda. Nor can we expect traditional civil or human rights organizations to take a lead role
domestically without a push from the grassroots level.
Open Letters to the Oscar Grant Justice Movement 11
Redening Racial Justice:
The National Alliance for Racial Justice and
Human Rights
Racial Justice Allies and the Human Rights Activists are forging
a new path to equity and racial justice and your support is
critical.
Racial justice is at the core of many human rights movements,
including the civil rights movement, but too often these
movements are unlinked. The US Human Rights Network
(USHRN) and member organizations across the country are
attempting to make a strong and unifed link between racial
justice and human rights by mobilizing, advocating, and
changing policy by calling for a National Plan of Action on
Racial Justice.
The NARJHR
The National Alliance for Racial Justice and
Human Rights (NARJHR) represents a cross
sector of organizations and movements that
calls on the government to fully implement the
International Convention on the Elimination
of All Forms of Racial Discrimination by
taking pro-active steps to confront racial
discrimination. The National Action Plan for
Racial Justice calls on the government to put
forth a strategic 5-year plan to address racial
disparities. The action plan represents a critical
step in realizing and ensuring the human rights
of all people in the United States. The NARJHR
is composed of three distinct but inter-related
working groups that are poised to organize
and push the Obama Administration to create
a National Action Plan.
Over the last fve years a number of racial justice and human rights groups have been organizing to ensure
the full implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. In 2007,
these groups joined forces with the USHRN to coordinate and submit a National Shadow Report to the United
Nations Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Since this successful lobbying initiative other
initiatives have formed to advance both CERD and human rights at home. Each of these groups has important
strategic objectives and each support the National Plan of Action on Human Rights and Racial Justice.
Contributions Towards A Way Forward 10
b. A statement of distinction on the role of political and community organizations as opposed to non-
profts; and clarity on the reformist orientation and political limitations of non-proft organizations
c. The function of organization in the movement to combat infltration (as appears to have occurred
within the Black Bloc and other formations)
d. The need for strategy to help facilitate forward development and political advancement of the
movement(s)
3. Joint Strategy and Work Plan: The second primary objective of such a collaboration would be to draft a
one-year strategy and work plan to realize the unifed demands that are put forward to the movement
to democratically accept (understanding the independence of initiative of each formation), modify, or
categorically reject.
This convergence of forces, although necessarily centered in California, particularly the Bay Area and Los
Angeles, should seek to build and consolidate a national and international organizing initiative.
On Demand Expansion and Development
1. The opening of a Federal Investigation by the Department of Justice (DOJ) can and should be used as a
national organizing opportunity. However, more self-determining justice initiatives should be organized
simultaneously to challenge US hegemony (internally and externally) by internationalizing the struggle.
More concretely, an independent peoples or citizens commission should be established to conduct an
autonomous examination of the evidence, issue indictments, and pressure the DOJ and its process. This
commission would ideally consist of family members, community activists, lawyers, jurists, etc. and call on
various international bodies within the United Nations (UN) and International System (such as the Inter-
American Court) to intervene in the case and challenge the racist policies and practices that enabled it.
2. The demand for resources and economic development must be supported unequivocally, but modifed
in a manner that puts limits on the controls of City Hall and its near exclusive access by grasstop
forces. A means to accomplishing this (not without its faults or limits by any stretch) could be the
institutionalization of participatory budgeting systems to determine the use of the cities resources
to ensure they are used to address and service human needs such as adequate housing, health care,
education, etc.
Synthesis Demands
This synthesis is an attempt to combine and expand on the demands originally articulated by the African
Peoples Socialist Party (APSP), By Any Means Necessary (BAMN) Coalition, and the New Years Movement
(NYM).
1. We demand that Of cers Pirone and Domenici be indicted for murder.
2. We demand civil restitution and reparations for the family Oscar Grant, and the victims of Police violence
by the OPD and BART.
3. We demand that BART Police be disarmed and disbanded.
4. We demand that the Police Bill of Rights, which shields the records of police misconduct, abuse and
murder, be immediately abolished, and that all police records be made public.
5. We demand that an independent peoples commission, drawn and determined by the citizens of
Oakland, with international jurists determined by this commission, be granted oversight into the Federal
Department of Justice investigation of the murder of Oscar Grant, and systemic violations of civil and
human rights by the Oakland and Transit Police.
6. We demand the termination of all Gang Injunction laws and policies in Oakland and throughout California
Open Letters to the Oscar Grant Justice Movement 3
on the grounds of their unconstitutionality and their violation of civil and international law.
7. We demand that Oakland be declared a sanctuary city, and that all ICE raids and racial profling policies
and practices targeting Latino/a, Black, Asian and other oppressed peoples be terminated immediately.
8. We demand that the City of Oakland, the State of California, and the Federal Government provide massive
funding for education and jobs in Oakland that are allocated and distributed via a transparent and
democratic public participatory budgeting process.
One-Year Plan Targets/Tactics
1. Conduct a mass and coordinated non-compliance action in Oakland and Los Angeles the day after
Mehserles sentencing, that calls for Student walk outs and strike or sick out actions by Public Sector,
Transit, Dock, and other workers that disrupts the regular fow of business to raise our demands and
demonstrate the power of mass action.
2. Organize broad, neighborhood Police/Copwatch formations, and work to create liberated zones in Black,
Latino, Asian, and white working class and poor communities, where the police are prohibited or curtailed
in their activities.
3. Organize a massive local, regional, statewide, and national Justice for Oscar Grant petition drive to
pressure the DOJ and build support for the movements demands (buttressed by broad internet and social
networking interface to support and broaden reach).
4. Develop a broad peoples media and cultural workers initiative to provide educational, motivational, and
agitation tools and resources for the movement and to provide suf cient analysis and coverage to frame
the movement from its own perspective and counter the reactionary framing and attacks of the bourgeois
media,
5. Hold a Peoples Tribunal, with international observers and jurists, to pressure the DOJ and its deliberations.
6. Utilize Inter-American and United Nations special action procedures and special rapporteurs to conduct
international investigations, recommendations, and sanctions on the US government for its failure to
protect the human rights of Oscar Grant, the victims of police violence, and the targets of the various
racial profling laws and policies sanctioned by the government.
7. Organize local, state and national referendum and legislative initiatives to realize and support the
movements demands. A possible start could entail running progressive candidates in Oakland who stand
on a platform based on the movements demands in the upcoming elections to help defne public debate
and pressure the government to comply.
Without a doubt, accomplishing all of this is a tall order, particularly for a young and fragmented movement.
But, as the history of the peoples struggles against white supremacy, colonialism, and imperialism here and all
over the world demonstrate, no political challenges are insurmountable. If we dare to win, then we must dare
to struggle against the internal shortcomings and subjectivities of the movement that hinder us from building
the operational unity needed to execute initiatives of scale such as those proposed in this paper. The struggle
for unity does not mean that we should stop struggling against collaborationist and opportunist ideas and
practices. It simply implores us to do all we can to seize the opportunities at hand. With organization, strategy,
discipline, and determination we can and will win!
In Unity and Struggle,
Kali Akuno
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Contributions Towards A Way Forward 4
Suggestions
1. As much as possible, we should seek to coordinate the letter writing, October 23
rd
mobilization, and
potential Tribunal with the UPR pressure initiative as tactics within a coherent short-term strategy.
2. The National Coordinating body should meet as much as is needed, but be preliminarily committed to
meeting twice in September and October.
An Overview of the UPR Process
For the frst time, the United Nations is
investigating the entire human rights record of
the United States through the Universal Periodic
Review (UPR), and there are opportunities for the
community to contribute its perspectives as part
of the review process.
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a new UN
mechanism that examines all countries based not
only on the human rights obligations set forth in
the treaties they have ratifed, but also those in the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN
Charter.
This process centers around a discussion between
the government and the UN Human Rights
Council, based on three documents:
1. The governments report on its human rights
status,
2. A compilation of UN human rights reports on
the country, and
3. A compilation of civil society reports.
The review of the U.S. before the Human Rights
Council will occur on November 5, 2010, from
9 AM to noon, Geneva time, and the process
preceding and following this review provides
numerous opportunities to bring attention to
major human rights issues in this country and to mobilize advocacy eforts at the community and national
levels.
The US UPR Project is led by a USHRN-sponsored Planning Committee. With a dozen members, this body
represents a variety of human rights organizations from across the United States.
In mid-April, 26 joint reports, including one overarching paper, were submitted to the United Nations
Of ce of the High Commissioner for Human Rights by over 130 organizations, with over 400 endorsements.
Coordinated by the US Human Rights Network, these reports are available online at http://www.ushrnetwork.
org/upr_reports.
Open Letters to the Oscar Grant Justice Movement 9
Proposed Next Steps on Universal
Periodic Review Initiative
Local Organizations/
Coalitions
1. Local organizations and coalitions should assess their capacity and
decide if they can conduct an action between Monday, November
1
st
Thursday, November 4
th
.
2. The local organization or coalition should designate
representatives to join a national coordinating body to coordinate
the Day or Week of Action on a national level.
3. The local organization or coalition should determine its symbolic
target, what type of action, and what local, regional, and supports
including media and any legal observers or aid necessary to
publicize their actions by September 11
th
.
National Coordination
1. The national coordinating body should
a) develop a statement of principles and/or norms to guide the
work of the body,
b) develop a comprehensive set of national plans and policy
recommendations, and
c) draft a preliminary set of talking points to frame the initiative to the general public and the media by
September 11
th
.
2. The national coordinating body should be prepared to broadcast the initiative via national and
international press work, underscored by the creation of the infrastructure website(s), social media, etc.
necessary to broadcast the initiative.
Media/Cultural
Workers
1. Secure commitments from progressive media
outlets (radio, TV, social media, etc.) to promote
the Oscar Grant Justice Movement and related
issues and campaigns.
2. Develop mass agitation materials based on the
national or joint demands and recommendations
to place in the media and mass outreach and
mobilization activities.
3. Develop media stories and secure consistent
placements for the initiatives spokespersons,
particularly September through the frst week in
November.
4. Develop and coordinate website and social networking media for the national initiative.
Contributions Towards A Way Forward 8
An Open Letter to the Justice for
Oscar Grant Movement, Part 2:
Suggestions on Structure, Peoples Tribunal, and
Utilizing the UPR Process
This letter was drafted in response to inquiries on a national phone call on the struggle for Justice for
Oscar Grant organized by Davey D, Biko Baker, and the League of Young Voters on Wednesday, July 21st.
Greetings All,
Per our discussion regarding next steps on the July
21st call I wanted to ofer several suggestions to the
group to consider.
On Structure: The US Human Rights Network (USHRN)
has been in the process of forming a National Alliance
for Racial Justice and Human Rights (NARJHR) since
the summer of 2009. This Alliance was initiated
by Network members the Malcolm X Grassroots
Movement, Black Workers for Justice, Mississippi
Workers Center for Human Rights, Center for
Constitutional Rights, Latin American and Caribbean
Community Center, and others, and is seeking to
focus on the following racial justice issues and
struggles:
Indigenous sovereignty
Colonial occupation (Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Guam, etc.)
Racial Profling
Police Brutality
Mass Incarceration (including Drug Policy and Voting Rights)
Immigration
Workers Rights
Economic Justice
Gender and Reproductive Justice
Environmental Racism
Given that we began to address a comprehensive framework that touched on most, if not all of these issues,
the Network and the NARJHR Organizing Committee - of which I am a member - ofer its framework and
incipient structure to this collective as something to consider to help sustain and build this initiative. For more
information on the National Alliance please visit:
http://019d5f5.netsolhost.com/NARJHR/
(Please note that this site is currently under construction and is in the process of being transferred to the new
Open Letters to the Oscar Grant Justice Movement 5
USHRN hosting site).
On National Campaign(s): To answer the questions, a) how can we can link our various local eforts and
initiatives and b) what are we demanding of the government that will address our issues and begin to
transform the relations of power underneath them, I want to point to the following example as something to
both model and join. The example comes from a campaign initiative being lead by the Rights Working Group
(RWG), a USHRN af liate, to confront Racial Profling. The campaigns primary objective is to pass the national
End of Racial Profling Act being reintroduced in Congress. For more information see the following link:
http://www.rightsworkinggroup.org/sites/default/fles/ERPA_IssueBrief.pdf
Again, I think this provides us with an excellent concrete example of what can do by combining our eforts.
On the Tribunal Proposal: Building on the groundwork laid on the case of Oscar Grant in Oakland, CA from
the Tribunals conducted by the African Peoples Socialist Party (APSP) and By Any Means Necessary Coalition
(BAMN), what me and Davey D want to put forward is a Tribunal proposal that will a) provide clear evidence
and contextualization on Oscar Grants murder to pressure the DOJ, b) create space to address the national
implications of the murder and the policies that enabled it to help build a national alliance and/or coalition,
and 3) internationalize the struggle by including participants such as the UN Special Rapporteur on Racism
and the Universal Periodic Review Process (see below) to further pressure the DOJ and the US government in
general to make various reforms. Further, building on the models of the International Tribunal on Hurricanes
Katrina and Rita in 2007 and Winter Solider in 2008, we want to put forth the following outline:
That we make the Tribunal as simple as possible, but scale it up utilizing interactive technology, to make it
afordable and accessible to a broad audience.
1. That we invite international participants, like the Special Rapportuer on Racism, to be involved and
include them in the proceedings via technology like Skype, etc.
2. That we base the Tribunal proceedings on human rights and/or international law practices.
3. That we conduct the Tribunal over a three day period, conceptually broken down in the following manner:
Day One: Testimony, focusing on Oscar Grant and other cases of Police Brutality and Murder
Day Two: Examining and exposing the Structural Issues, i.e. Racial Profling, Mass Incarceration, ICE Raids,
Structural Un/Under Employment, etc.
Day Three: Demands, Recommendations, and Solutions, to press upon the US government and the UN
To give ourselves enough time, and hopefully tap into existing institutions of resistance, we suggest that we
aim to conduct the Tribunal on or around October 22nd. This would give us two full months (August and
September) to organize and coordinate the efort and to publicize it nationally to a considerable degree.
However, this developing alliance, but most particularly the forces on the ground in California, would need
to come to terms on conducting such an event and then fgure out a) who the potential organizing anchors
would be and b) how to generate the resources necessary to engage in such an undertaking.
For more information on the Special Rapporteur on Racism and the mandate of the of ce please visit:
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/racism/rapporteur/index.htm
For information on previous engagements of the Special Rapporteur on Racism with US social movements
visit:
Contributions Towards A Way Forward 6
http://www.ushrnetwork.org/special_rep
On the UPR Day/Week of Action: The UPR stands for the Universal Periodic Review. It is a relatively new
process of the United Nations country reporting system to evaluate the conduct of the world nations towards
meeting their obligations to respect, protect, and fulfll human rights. The United States is being subjected
to its frst UPR review on Friday, November 5th in Geneva, Switzerland. The human rights record of the US
will be presented and defended by Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and Attorney General Eric Holder. As Im
sure everyone has noted, this is the same date that Johannes Mehserle is currently set to be sentenced. And
with Eric Holder, the head of the DOJ, being a primary presenter, this process provides us with an excellent
opportunity to both shame the US government on its inadequate polices and conduct and to pressure the
DOJ, and the government on a whole, to make concrete progressive reforms based on our demands.
To fully exploit this opportunity what is being suggested is a national day and/or week of action between
November 1st - 4th to infuence the Mehserle sentencing proceedings directly and the USs UPR hearing
process. Suggested actions would entail:
1. Teach-Ins,
2. Congressional Lobbying
3. Mass Demonstrations on relevant targets
4. Direct Actions also on relevant targets (Justice Department, Federal Courts, etc.).
Critical to the success of this initiative would be the generation of national and international media. Our media
and cultural workers would need to form a solid plan to support, document, and report the activities of this
week to ensure there was broad coverage to pressure the government.
For more information on the UPR please visit the following websites:
http://www.ushrnetwork.org/campaign_upr
and
http://www.upr-info.org/-United-States-.html
In Unity and Struggle,
Kali Akuno
Monday, July 26, 2010
Open Letters to the Oscar Grant Justice Movement 7