Parable of Walter Riley, Civil Rights Attorney, Beaten and Jailed During Oakland Riot

Monday, July 12, 2010

Parableof Walter Riley

Parable ofWalter Riley

PlatoNegro's friend and supporter, Attorney Walker Riley, was beaten andarrested by OPD pigs as he attempted to enter his office on Broadway asrioters and looters ransacked the Footlocker next door.

Thelegendary civil rights attorney and humanitarian works closely withactor Danny Glover on radical social projects. Walter, wife anddaughter, were in Haiti on the day of the earthquake. The Bay Area wasconcerned for their lives until we learned they were safe and doinghumanitarian work which they've been doing in Haiti for many years.

Speakingon KPFA radio, along with his son Manual (rapper Boots Riley is anotherson), Walter said as he put his electronic key in his office door, thepolice grabbed and beat him several times with their night sticks. Hisson tried to intervene but the police were in such force he did not tryto fight back but only help his father. Walter was taken to jail alongwith other protesters. Of course he will file charges against the OPDfor this unjust and violent treatment of himself and others.

Waltersaid Mayor Ron Dellums, OPD Chief Bates and other City Council personswho asserted the police did an admiral job were full of poppycock. Theywere violent under the color of law, as per usual.

Riley alsoobjected to the narrative that Oakland was beset by outside agitators.If anything, he said the OPD is a gang of outside agitators since mostof them do not live in Oakland. He issued this statement on outsideagitators:

The murder of Oscar Grant is a universal issue of justice and civil rights.

I do not like this divisive campaign to divide our community and protesters by calling peopleoutsiders. Oaklandis not an isolated town in the desert. This is a great metropolitanarea with people from all over; with a world class university; we expectpeople from all over the map to participate in Oakland. Callingpeople outsiders in this instance is a political attack on the movement.The subtext is that the outsiders are white and not connected toOakland. From the days of the civil rights movement to now the outsiderlabeling failed to address the underlying problems for which peoplecame together.

For those whose frustration with progress leads them to violent protest, we mustengage in respectful political struggle. I understand the frustration;I do not support destruction and looting as political protest. Iadamantly object to calling our youth and political activistsoutsiders. I call upon everyone to push back against this tendency.

Walter Riley

Attorney at Law

1440 Broadway
Oakland

--Marvin X
7/12/10

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