Oakland Organizes Trash Cleanup
OAKLAND, Calif. (KCBS)- The crowds fanning out in Oakland today were in stark contrast to those Thursday night when a small riot following the BART murder-trial verdict left 100 businesses damaged.
This was an organized trash cleanup by those who hold the city dear to their hearts.
They met at Acts Full Gospel Church on 66th Street and marched in every direction with shovels and gloves, trash bags and rakes.
Former Oakland resident Pearl Mitchell now of Vallejo doesn't like the way Oakland was portrayed by the media following the verdict melee.
"I personally don't like stereotyping. It is what it is, subsidized housing, but that doesn't mean that they don't deserve clean streets," said Mitchell.
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Wearing a t-shirt supportive of mayoral hopeful Don Perata, organizer Anne Willcoxen said they'll clean various neighborhoods each Saturday for an eight-week period.
"People want to do something. People like it here. Everyone we've met believes in Oakland," said Wilcoxen.
The 80 or so volunteers gathered truck loads of rubbish, including old toys, tires, fast food litter and hypodermic syringes.
