APTP CALL FOR MUTUAL AID SUPPORT AT LAKE MERRITT

Dear Oakland,

For more than two years now, we have watched anti-Black sentiment drive increased complaints about Black bodies enjoying the Lake.  One week it’s the noise, the next week, it’s the trash (regardless of how well or often we clean up), and another week, it’s the parking.  This kind of racist dog-whistling is what emboldened BBQ Becky to weaponize the police against Black men BBQing and Jogger Joe to attack an unhoused Black man. 

Now, the City has decided to appease those who would prefer the lake be their own private oasis, sans Black beauty, by funding increased police presence at the Lake to enforce new rules regulating who can vend, where they can vend, who can park, where they can park, who can make noise, and how much noise they can make. 

After just one weekend, we have already seen the sad and predictable ripple effects. Haven’t we learned our lesson about using cops to deal with community crisis? With these actions, Oakland has set Black people and other BIPOC community members on a collision course with law enforcement, which we know can only lead to bad things. 

This action is incredibly egregious during a time when we are supposedly reimagining public safety and it flies in the face of what thousands of Oaklanders have said that they want. 

This past weekend, the Lake was transformed from a vibrant, happy place full with vendors and music and people out with their families, enjoying the lake and the sunshine, to a place where the streets are filled with police, parking enforcement, blocked off lanes and parking spaces, and a noticeable lack of the aforementioned vendors and families. Numerous police and city vehicles sat idling around the lake, with officers inside no doubt collecting overtime that the city (WE) can’t afford. 

Vendors that members of APTP spoke with said that many people had already packed up and left due to fear that they would be harassed or arrested by law enforcement. In addition, Community Ready Corps, who hosted a wildly successful Black Solidarity Market every weekend for over a month, ended their programming as the introduction of such heavy-handed policing flies in the face of the community empowerment efforts they are committed to creating. 

We are not going to just sit idly by while Black folks are pushed out of yet one more PUBLIC Oakland space nor wait for the inevitable harm that will come as a result of the increased policing of our bodies and culture.

For anyone who is Black or a member of other BIPOC communities who experiences harassment, intimidation, threats or harm due to the increase in policing at the lake, please email us at lakemerrittmutualaid@gmail.com. Please also let us know if you have witnessed any threats or intimidation by completing this form. You are welcome to remain anonymous in your communications with us. We will provide legal aid and advocacy support to those who need it and compile your stories and data to demonstrate yet one.more.time. that badges and guns are not the answer to our community needs, difficulties, and conversations.

We are also seeking passive observers!  If you are available to take a shift during the weekend (Saturday/Sunday anytime between 10am-7pm) to observe and note any harassment, intimidation or other negative impacts, please complete this form. Stipends provided for your time.

We look forward to working with Councilmember Bas on her proposals to support permitted vending around the Lake and other Oakland public spaces and as quickly as possible replacing cops with Community Ambassadors.

In solidarity,
APTP
#WeTakeCareOfUs