Push for Oscar Grant Memorial
OAKLAND, Calif. (KCBS)- The jury in the Johannes Mehserle murder trial resumes its deliberations Tuesday.
In the meantime Oakland business leaders are creating something positive for youth in the name of Oscar Grant.
The portrait of the 22-year-old victim has been plastered on walls, telephone poles and street lamps throughout Oakland neighborhoods and business areas.
The president of the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Joseph Haraburda, says business leaders from Chinatown and the African-American community have joined forces to create the Oscar Grant Memorial Fund to support programs that help East Bay youth.
Donations have raised more than $5 thousand for the fund.
"We're anxious to have anybody who sees the value in providing a contribution to young people to help them understand the importance of assembling in an orderly way and to discussing issues in a way that they can make Oakland a better and stronger city," said Haraburda.
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Haraburda is referring to the reaction once the verdict is announced in the murder trial of former BART cop Johannes Mehserle, who is accused of fatally shooting Grant in the back as the young man was lying face down on a Fruitvale BART platform on New Year's Day, 2009.
The trial was moved to Los Angeles due to extensive publicity in Alameda County.
