Activism

Black Vendor Group Flourishes on Oakland’s Lake Merritt

Published

5 years ago

August 13, 2020

Entrepreneur James Copes and Oakland City Councilmember Nikki Fortunato Bas discussing the Lake Merritt Black Vendors Group activities. Photo by Jordan Long Copes.

What started out to be a protest against a purportedly racial-bias incident on the shores of Lake Merritt near the Cleveland Cascades in April 2018, has turned into a weekly, weekend gathering where vendors can showcase their products and services to the public.

The incident was sparked by an individual known as ‘BBQ Becky.’ Becky called police on a Black family who were peacefully having a picnic at the Lake. At first, there was a protest staged by members of the victimized family that brought out musicians, poets dancers and other entertainment as well as vendors selling crafts, clothing, wares and food. Every weekend since that incident, Black folks have been gathering at the same area, barbequing and staging community activities.

In the past few months, Black entrepreneurs (mostly micro-businesses) have been pitching their tents, displaying their products and selling everything from ice cream, to T-shirts, to hair products at the Lake. The enterprise is thriving full-force, which includes dozens of entrepreneurs and first –time sellers that have bolstered the area’s Black economy.

While City officials aren’t completely supportive of the event due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Black vendors have met and have implemented plans to ensure health and safety codes are not being violated by the vendors.

Spokesperson James Copes of ‘Old School Copes’ noted that precautions to ensure health and safety guidelines are in place and being practiced. “Each vendor booth participating at our event is supplied with free face masks and hand sanitizers for our customers when they visit our booths,” Copes noted. “Additionally, all vendors along Lakeshore are encouraging people to social distance while browsing among the booths.”

“We don’t have the ability to force people to follow certain safety rules, but we make it a point to inform them that when entering any booth, they must adhere to the regulations we have set in place.”

Oakland City Councilmember Nikki Fortunato Bas, whose district covers the Lake Merritt area, has been supportive of what the Black vendors are doing. “This marketing enterprise is encouraging and brings a much-needed boost to the economy of the Black community,” said Bas.

“Especially during COVID, we have to follow the rules and policies set forth by the County and City and to work with the City Administration to ensure the public’s safety. Oakland’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission will be meeting on August 12th on how the public can use the parks, including the Lake Merritt.”

“The vendors will continue to serve customers on the Lake,” said Copes. “It’s important to them economically. People are wondering how they’re going to make it and pay their bills. This has been one way to help people subsidize their income and develop and grow their business.

“But it’s not just about selling products; we are bringing people together and having conversations about our daily lives and how we can work collectively. We are creating community.”

“We are buying and spending monies with each other. This is helping people to become self-reliant. That’s how Black enterprises should work. Additionally, non-profit groups have joined the vendors to do fundraising projects.”

“We will continue to be respectful of the people who live in the neighborhood. We will remind people not to park in people’s driveways, and we will shut down at 8:00 p.m. and clean up the areas around each booth.”

For more information on the Black vendors’ group, email oldschoolcopes@gmail.com.

Clifford L Williams

Posts by Clifford L Williams | Website

Up Next

Eastmont Mall Site of Mass COVID-19 Testing Event on Aug. 22-23 Led by Dr. Kim Rhoads

Don't Miss

Street Academy’s Parents and Teachers Plan Together for School in the Fall

Clifford L Williams

Click to comment

Activism

OP-ED: AB 1349 Puts Corporate Power Over Community

Since Ticketmaster and Live Nation merged in 2010, ticket prices have jumped more than 150 percent. Activities that once fit a family’s budget now take significant disposable income that most working families simply don’t have. The problem is compounded by a system that has tilted access toward the wealthy and white-collar workers. If you have a fancy credit card, you get “presale access,” and if you work in an office instead of a warehouse, you might be able to wait in an online queue to buy a ticket. Access now means privilege.

Published

1 week ago

January 9, 2026

Oakland Post

Bishop Joseph Simmons, Senior Pastor, Greater St. Paul Baptist Church, Oakland

By Bishop Joseph Simmons, Senior Pastor, Greater St. Paul Baptist Church, Oakland

As a pastor, I believe in the power that a sense of community can have on improving people’s lives. Live events are one of the few places where people from different backgrounds and ages can share the same space and experience – where construction workers sit next to lawyers at a concert, and teenagers enjoy a basketball game with their grandparents. Yet, over the past decade, I’ve witnessed these experiences – the concerts, games, and cultural events where we gather – become increasingly unaffordable, and it is a shame.

These moments of connection matter as they form part of the fabric that holds communities together. But that fabric is fraying because of Ticketmaster/Live Nation’s unchecked control over access to live events. Unfortunately, AB 1349 would only further entrench their corporate power over our spaces.

Power over live events is concentrated in a single corporate entity, and this regime operates without transparency or accountability – much like a dictator. Ticketmaster controls 80 percent of first-sale tickets and nearly a third of resale tickets, but they still want more. More power, more control for Ticketmaster means higher prices and less access for consumers. It’s the agenda they are pushing nationally, with the help of former Trump political operatives, who are quietly trying to undo the antitrust lawsuit launched against Ticketmaster/Live Nation under President Biden’s DOJ.

That’s why I’m deeply concerned about AB 1349 in its current form. Rather than reining in Ticketmaster’s power, the bill risks strengthening it, aligning with Trump. AB 1349 gives Ticketmaster the ability to control a consumer’s ticket forever by granting Ticketmaster’s regime new powers in state law to prevent consumers from reselling or giving away their tickets. It also creates new pathways for Ticketmaster to discriminate and retaliate against consumers who choose to shop around for the best service and fees on resale platforms that aren’t yet controlled by Ticketmaster. These provisions are anti-consumer and anti-democratic.

California has an opportunity to stand with consumers, to demand transparency, and to restore genuine competition in this industry. But that requires legislation developed with input from the community and faith leaders, not proposals backed by the very company causing the harm.

Will our laws reflect fairness, inclusion, and accountability? Or will we let corporate interests tighten their grip on spaces that should belong to everyone? I, for one, support the former and encourage the California Legislature to reject AB 1349 outright or amend it to remove any provisions that expand Ticketmaster’s control. I also urge community members to contact their representatives and advocate for accessible, inclusive live events for all Californians. Let’s work together to ensure these gathering spaces remain open and welcoming to everyone, regardless of income or background.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

Oakland Post: Week of December 31, 2025 – January 6, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – December 31, 2025 – January 6, 2026

Published

2 weeks ago

January 2, 2026

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

Big God Ministry Gives Away Toys in Marin City

Pastor Hall also gave a message of encouragement to the crowd, thanking Jesus for the “best year of their lives.” He asked each of the children what they wanted to be when they grow up.

Published

3 weeks ago

December 29, 2025

Oakland Post

From top left: Pastor David Hall asking the children what they want to be when they grow up. Worship team Jake Monaghan, Ruby Friedman, and Keri Carpenter. Children lining up to receive their presents. Photos by Godfrey Lee.

By Godfrey Lee

Big God Ministries, pastored by David Hall, gave toys to the children in Marin City on Monday, Dec. 15, on the lawn near the corner of Drake Avenue and Donahue Street.

Pastor Hall also gave a message of encouragement to the crowd, thanking Jesus for the “best year of their lives.” He asked each of the children what they wanted to be when they grew up.

Around 75 parents and children were there to receive the presents, which consisted mainly of Gideon Bibles, Cat in the Hat pillows, Barbie dolls, Tonka trucks, and Lego building sets.

A half dozen volunteers from the Big God Ministry, including Donnie Roary, helped to set up the tables for the toy giveaway. The worship music was sung by Ruby Friedman, Keri Carpenter, and Jake Monaghan, who also played the accordion.

Big God Ministries meets on Sundays at 10 a.m. at the Mill Valley Community Center, 180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley, CA Their phone number is (415) 797-2567.