By Tom Lochner
Monterey County Herald
OAKLAND — A letter to the public by former BART police officer Johannes Mehserle expressing sorrow for shooting and killing Oscar Grant III is “garbage,” a mere ploy to get a lighter sentence, Grant’s uncle and a minister close to his family told a gathering of community members and reporters in West Oakland on Saturday.
“Just like he faked and cried on the stand, he sent out a fake letter to the public,” uncle Cephus Johnson said.
“A letter released to the press is not a letter to the family of Oscar Grant,” Minister Keith Muhammad of the Nation of Islam said. “It’s a political letter to influence sentencing.”
Muhammad, minister of Oakland’s Mosque No. 26 B, spoke at a news conference outside True Vine Missionary Baptist Church, where he has hosted frequent town hall meetings since Mehserle shot Grant, 22, of Hayward, in the back during a chaotic scene at the Fruitvale BART station on New Year’s Day 2009. The shooting was captured on a bystander’s cell phone video and widely circulated on the Internet.
Mehserle testified that he thought he was firing his Taser at Grant, who was lying on his stomach moments before Mehserle shot him.
A Los Angeles Superior Court jury Thursday convicted Mehserle of involuntary manslaughter with a firearm enhancement.
In the letter, dated July 4 and released to the media Friday, Mehserle says, in part:
“I hope those who hate me and those who understand that I never intended to shoot Oscar Grant will listen to this message.
“I have and will continue to live every day of my life knowing that Mr. Grant should not have been shot. I know a daughter has lost a father and a mother has lost a son. It saddens me knowing that my actions cost Mr. Grant his life, no words express how truly sorry I am.”
Mehserle, 28, faces five to 14 years for involuntary manslaughter with the gun enhancement. He is scheduled to appear for sentencing before Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Robert Perry later this summer.
Grant’s mother, Wanda Johnson, also appeared at Saturday’s gathering but did not speak. The family’s civil attorney, John Burris, was not present.
Muhammad and several community activists praised the people of Oakland and especially young people for what they described as a peaceful reaction to a violent injustice.
Speakers said Oakland has a long history of white police officers shooting young black men.
“We’ve got to change the mindset of these police officers, who think they can get away with killing our kids,” one activist told reporters.
Muhammad chastised the news media, accusing them of fomenting hysteria and fear by portraying Oakland as a violent city both before and after Thursday’s verdict.
“Oakland did not burn down a few days ago,” Muhammad said.
Johnson criticized police for inciting the looting and vandalism Thursday night. However, several activists praised Mayor Ron Dellums and Oakland police for keeping the peace after the verdict.
Copyright 2010 The Monterey County Herald