Occupy Oakland hosts a forum on police conduct tonight at the Grand Lake Theater at 6:15 p.m.

Police officers charge towards protesters on January 28 at 10th and Oak. Photo credit: Clavo

People who live and work in Oakland need no reminder that the Oakland Police Department is corrupt. The power of the police has been abused for too long. Those in charge of the checks and balances of that power are also abusing their roles. Even the Citizens Police Review Board (CPRB) is failing on their job to keep the department in check.

The board was slated to host a forum to discuss OPD and its treatment of Occupy Oakland after months of harassment and wrongful arrests. That forum, originally scheduled for this evening, was delayed after the board announced they needed more time to gather evidence. The delay was announced after OPD unlawfully arrested more than 400 people on January 28.

When the CPRB announced the delay Occupy Oakland supporters quickly put a plan in place to hold a community forum to discuss the pressing issue of police brutality. Occupy Oakland, like everyone else in the community, knows the time to wait is over and the time to take action is now. Either the community can wait for those overseeing OPD to do the right thing or we can fix it ourselves by working together.

The forum is an opportunity to bring ideas and solutions to the table. OPD violence against Occupy Oakland is out of control, but it is also out of control in East Oakland, West Oakland and in every other neighborhood where there is a cop on a power trip. Occupy Oakland’s forum tonight isn’t a start to the conversation, or a finishing point. It’s a continuation of a discussion that must find a resolution soon. City officials and review boards have shown they cannot come up with the resolution. The people must find one now.

Those who cannot attend the forum may view it on livestream via @OakFoSho or Bella Eiko on ustream .

video courtesy of Clavo