As communities in California react to the verdict in the killing of Oscar Grant, few are closer to the developments than John Burris, lead defense attorney in the civil trial and counsel for the Grant family in this case. Burris talks with The Takeaway.
We talk with Jack Leonard, a reporter with the Los Angeles Times who was in the courtroom when the verdict was announced. We also talk with freelancer reporter Bob Butler, who has been following the controversy from Oakland.
Last night, jurors in Los Angeles found Johannes Mehserle guilty of involuntary manslaughter. We’re joined by Adimu Madyun, a resident of West Oakland, and a community correspondent for Oakland Voices, a project of the Oakland Tribune newspaper.
Jury selection is complete in the murder case against former BART police officer Johannes Mehserle against an unarmed passenger, Oscar Grant, in 2009; but, while the case is moving forward, many activists are concerned about the jury’s racial make-up.