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Trump Attacks Oakland for Its Commitment to Protecting Immigrants Against Raids

Published

7 years ago

March 19, 2018

Oakland residents and others demonstrate March 7 when Attorney General Jeff Sessions spoke in Sacrament. Protesters said: “Sessions go home. We won’t be bullied.” Photo courtesy of Jean Quan on Facebook.

Local residents and community leaders are responding with redoubled determination after Mayor Libby Schaaf and the city have come under attack by President Trump, Attorney General Jeff Sessions and ICE Director Thomas Homan for opposing local ICE deportation raids and defending Oakland as a sanctuary city.

“Who would ever have thought we would see the day the president of the United States would be attacking institutions,” like the City of Oakland, the State of California and even the FBI and the CIA, said community activist Jose Dorado.

“It’s a real showdown,” he said. “There are certainly a number of sanctuary cities, and California is a sanctuary state, but we have made our sanctuary city resolution one of the strongest, if not the strongest, in the nation.”

Oakland’s resolution forbids the City of Oakland and the Oakland Police Department from cooperating or collaborating with ICE and also provides funding to support a rapid response legal team to go to locations where ICE raids are in progress.

The sanctuary city policy was adopted by the City Council with major community backing and the leadership of Councilmembers Rebecca Kaplan, Desley Brooks and Noel Gallo.

A resolution passed last year was ignored by the Oakland Police Department in August when it provided support for an ICE raid. Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick and Mayor Schaaf defended the collaboration with ICE.

In response, the council passed a stronger and more clearly worded resolution prohibiting OPD from collaborating with ICE, including providing traffic control or logistical support for raids.

Retaliating against the strong council resolution and the intense criticism of the mayor and police chief for collaborating with ICE, some members of the council unsuccessfully attempted to remove Councilmember Brooks as head of the Public Safety Committee.

The Trump administration’s attacks on Mayor Schaaf began after she sent out a tweet Saturday, Feb. 27, warning the community of impending ICE raids.

“As Mayor of Oakland,” she wrote, “I am sharing this information publicly not to panic our residents, but to protect them.”

ICE Director Homan blasted Schaaf, saying her tweet enabled over 800 “criminals” to avoid capture.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions gave a speech in Sacramento criticizing California, singling out Oakland’s mayor.

“So, here’s my message for Mayor Schaaf: how dare you. How dare you needlessly endanger the lives of our law enforcement officers to promote a radical open borders agenda,” he said.

Escalating the attack and threatening reprisals, President Trump called Schaaf “a disgrace.”

“They had close to 1,000 people ready to be gotten, ready to be taken off the streets… they say 85 percent of them are criminals and had criminal records. And the mayor of Oakland went and warned them, scattered, so instead of taking in a thousand, they took a fraction of that.

“And it’s certainly something we are looking at with respect to her individually.”

Schaaf told the media she would be willing to go to jail to help protect Oakland residents against ICE raids.

The White House’s accusations against Schaaf and Oakland lost steam this week when a Northern California ICE spokesman resigned, saying he was not willing to parrot the false allegations.

“I quit because I didn’t want to perpetuate misleading facts,” James Schwab told the San Francisco Chronicle. “I asked them to change the information. I told them that the information was wrong, they asked me to deflect, and I didn’t agree with that. Then I took some time, and I quit.”

In Oakland, the attacks are backfiring. Like many other community members and activists, Dorado stands with Schaaf on this issue and defends her against the “Trumpists.”

“I don’t always agree with Libby Schaaf, but a whole lot of people are giving her a lot of props for (taking this stand),” he said.

Expressing mixed feelings, Claudine Tong wrote on Facebook that Schaaf “is getting so much good publicity from (this).”

“Too bad it won’t keep her from letting developers and gentrifiers take our homes or having Public Works destroy homeless people’s belongings and shelters while not providing the city services they are entitled to,” she wrote.

In a statement issued this week, Kaplan denounced the “lies” of the head of ICE, Sessions and Trump.

“They are not targeting dangerous criminals,” she said. “The administration is using an ancient tool of tyrants and bigots throughout history who seek to create fear of ‘the other’ in order to justify mistreatment of minority communities.”

“They are not upset about the ‘leaks,’” she said. “The feds pretend to be angry about the leak of internal confidential ICE information. However, in all their angry comments, they have not expressed any intention to or plan to find the leak.” Instead, they denounce “the person who received the leak, rather than whomever committed the leaking.”

Further, they gave their raids the name “Keep Safe,” said Kaplan, “but they are not about keeping people safe.”

Looking to the immediate future, School Board member Roseanne Torres told the Oakland Post the Oakland Unified School District is a sanctuary district, but more steps must be taken to protect Oakland parents and children who are living in fear that their families could be torn apart.

“Families are afraid,” she said. “We have to be very clear about how to get our children to school” when raids are threatened.

“We’re going this year to another level, “she said. Principals and school staff are asking parents how they will get their children to and from school if the parents are afraid to leave the house.

Parents have to face the question, she said: “Who is going to take care of your kids if you get picked up?”

“We’re living in a police state,” Torres continued. “There is no place to hide. We’re an example of what is coming in a lot of places.”

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‘Donald Trump Is Not a God:’ Rep. Bennie Thompson Blasts Trump’s Call to Jail Him

“Donald Trump is not a god,” U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., told The Grio during a recent interview, reacting to Trump’s unsupported claims that the congressman, along with other committee members like vice chair and former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, destroyed evidence throughout the investigation.

Published

7 hours ago

December 18, 2024

Oakland Post

Congressman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss. Courtesy photo.

By Post Staff

U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said he not intimidated by President-elect Donald Trump, who, during an interview on “Meet the Press,” called for the congressman to be jailed for his role as chairman of the special congressional committee investigating Trump’s role in the Jan. 6, 2021, mob attack on the U.S. Capitol.

“Donald Trump is not a god,” Thompson told The Grio during a recent interview, reacting to Trump’s unsupported claims that the congressman, along with other committee members like vice chair and former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, destroyed evidence throughout the investigation.

“He can’t prove it, nor has there been any other proof offered, which tells me that he really doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” said the 76-year-old lawmaker, who maintained that he and the bipartisan Jan. 6 Select Committee – which referred Trump for criminal prosecution – were exercising their constitutional and legislative duties.

“When someone disagrees with you, that doesn’t make it illegal; that doesn’t even make it wrong,” Thompson said, “The greatness of this country is that everyone can have their own opinion about any subject, and so for an incoming president who disagrees with the work of Congress to say ‘because I disagree, I want them jailed,’ is absolutely unbelievable.”

When asked by The Grio if he is concerned about his physical safety amid continued public ridicule from Trump, whose supporters have already proven to be violent, Thompson said, “I think every member of Congress here has to have some degree of concern, because you just never know.”

This story is based on a report from The Grio.

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City of Oakland Celebrates Reopening of Main Library

“Libraries are such critical facilities for all Oaklanders, whether it’s children coming to story-time, adults reading the newspapers or borrowing the latest novels, and people engaging with a range of services and programs that the library hosts,” said Council President and District 2 Councilmember Nikki Fortunato Bas. “Such library services and programs are only possible when the facility’s electricity, heating, roof, and lighting are fixed and running efficiently. I’m proud to join this re-opening of our Main Public Library.”

Published

8 hours ago

December 18, 2024

Oakland Post

Left to Right- Jamie Turbak, Director of Library Services, LaTonda Simmons, Assistant City Administrator, Nikki Bas, President Oakland City Council, Shen Thao, Mayor of Oakland, Carroll Fife, Oakland City Councilmember District 3, Harold Duffey, Assistant City Administrator, Sean Maher, Projects Coordinator. Photo by Kevin Hicks.

The branch had been closed since May for critical infrastructure upgrades

Special to the Post

The City of Oakland leadership and community partners gathered to celebrate the reopening of the Main Library after completion of critical infrastructure upgrades to enhance the library’s facilities and provide a better experience for patrons.

Renovations include new roof installation, skylight repair, critical electrical system upgrades, new boiler control system installation, auditorium heating and cooling system installation, and improvements to lighting, flooring and ceilings throughout the building.

“This is truly something to celebrate, the reopening of our wonderful Main Library! I congratulate the staff and our partners for this important project to make the Main Library a more comfortable place for everyone for years to come, said Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao. “Thank you to Oakland voters and the California State Library for making these crucial improvements possible.”

“Public libraries are a wonderful resource for our residents, offering a safe space for learning and being,” said District 3 Councilmember Carroll Fife. “It is critical to improve and modernize our libraries so more members of our community can utilize and enjoy them. I’m excited that the necessary renovations to the Main Library have been completed successfully and thank everyone involved, particularly the City team, who helped secured the necessary grant funds for this work.”

“I am proud of the City staff and project partners who kept this important project on schedule and under budget,” said Assistant City Administrator G. Harold Duffey. “The library is an incredibly important resource for our community members, and this project is an investment into the library’s future.”

“December 2nd was a momentous occasion for Oakland Public Library as we proudly reopened the doors of the Main Library following extensive infrastructure repairs,” said Director of Library Services Jamie Turbak. “Closing the Main Library for six months was no easy decision, as it serves as the central hub for our library system and is truly the heart of Oakland. Yet, this renovation was essential, representing more than just physical upgrades—it reflects our ongoing commitment to creating a safe, welcoming space for everyone.”

The City Administrator Jestin Johnson also attended the press conference and signalled his support for the completion of the record-setting completion of the renovations. Gay Plair Cobb, a newly appointed Library Commissioner said the Library represents the soul and brains of our community.

The Oakland Public Library secured funding for these crititcal repairs through a variety of sources. The California State Library’s Building Forward Library Facilities Improvement Program awarded the Main Branch $4.2 million. To comply with the grant terms, the City of Oakland provided matching funds through Measures KK, as approved by the Oakland City Council in October 2023.

The Main Library will host an Open House to celebrate the reopening on February 22, 2025, 10 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

About the Oakland Public Library

The Oakland Public Library is a part of the City of Oakland in California and has been in existence since 1878. Locations include 16 neighborhood branches, a Main Library, a Second Start Adult Literacy Program, the Oakland Tool Lending Library, and the African American Museum and Library at Oakland (AAMLO). The Oakland Public Library empowers all people to explore, connect, and grow. Oaklandlibrary.org

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Biden’s Legacy Secured with Record-Setting Black Judicial Appointments

His record surpasses previous efforts by his predecessors. President Jimmy Carter appointed 37 Black judges, including seven Black women. In stark contrast, Donald Trump’s first term resulted in only two Black women appointed out of 234 lifetime judicial nominations. The White House said Biden’s efforts show a broader commitment to racial equity and justice.

Published

8 hours ago

December 18, 2024

Oakland Post

iStockphoto.

By Stacy M. Brown
WI Senior Writer

President Joe Biden’s commitment to diversifying the federal judiciary has culminated in a historic achievement: appointing 40 Black women to lifetime judgeships, the most of any president in U.S. history.

Biden has appointed 62 Black judges, cementing his presidency as one focused on promoting equity and representation on the federal bench.

The White House said Biden’s efforts show a broader commitment to racial equity and justice.

Meanwhile, Trump has vowed to dismantle key civil rights protections, including the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

“Having the Black woman’s experience on the federal bench is extremely important because there is a different kind of voice that can come from the Black female from the bench,” Delores Jones-Brown, professor emeritus at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, told reporters.

Lena Zwarensteyn of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights told reporters that these district court judges are often the first and sometimes the final arbiters in cases affecting healthcare access, education equity, fair hiring practices, and voting rights.

“Those decisions are often the very final decisions because very few cases actually get heard by the U.S. Supreme Court,” Zwarensteyn explained.

Biden’s nomination of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court further reflects his commitment to judicial diversity. Jackson became the first Black woman to serve on the nation’s highest court.

Patrick McNeil, spokesperson for the Leadership Conference, pointed out that over half of Biden’s Black female judicial appointees have backgrounds as civil rights attorneys and public defenders, experience advocates consider essential for a balanced judiciary.

Meanwhile, Congress remains divided over the expansion of federal judgeships. Legislation to add 66 new judgeships—approved unanimously by the Senate in August—stalled in the GOP-controlled House until after the election. House Republicans proposed distributing the new judgeships over the next decade, giving three administrations a say in appointments. President Biden, however, signaled he would veto the bill if it reached his desk.

Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., argued the delay was a strategic move to benefit Trump’s potential return to office. “Donald Trump has made clear that he intends to expand the power of the presidency and giving him 25 new judges to appoint gives him one more tool at his disposal,” Nadler said.