At a community safety forum with local leaders this week at Oakland Tech High School, hundreds of citizens of Oakland, California, urged the city to take action about the growing crime rates. One person said they have become “victims of a failed progressive utopia.”
On a panel, Oakland Police Lieutenant Jeffrey Thomason along with Kentrell Killens, the interim director of Oakland’s Dept. of Violence Prevention, were present in addition to City Council Member Dan Kalb, who organized the meeting.
Several locals recounted their accounts of how violence has affected their daily lives, from returning home to shopping at nearby stores. More than 500 people allegedly attended the event.
When a local lady asked the group how many of them had experienced assault, many of them raised their hands.
Several of the locals discussed the horrific assaults on women that had taken place in the city.
One homeowner remarked, “It is all women,” as she described her vicious assault outside her North Oakland house. “Last week, two youngsters beat the crap out of me in front of my home. Down on the ground. I was being punched, kicked, and dragged along the street.”
She said that an adolescent guy body-slammed her and attempted to take her pocketbook and that the attack was subsequently assisted by a young girl.
“My purse was not taken by them. I possess lungs. When my neighbors heard me, they emerged,” she continued. “I’m getting close to 60. I am one of the elderly ladies that was recently taken down. And it occurs everywhere.”
Local business owners discussed how the increase in crime is making it difficult for them to make a living in safety.
Owner of a martial arts school Louise Rafkin expressed her desire to avoid being threatened with sexual assault while at work. “Recently, a mentally ill person decided to set up camp close by. I do not want my kids to see this as typical street behavior,” the parent said.
Over the last year, violent crime and robberies have increased in Oakland.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle:
According to Oakland police statistics, “violent crime is up 7% this year and robberies are up 12% from the same time last year.”
The Chronicle writes that “North Oakland has witnessed a 22% spike in robberies over the previous year — from 101 reports to 123 — as well as an 18% increase in violent crime, going from 211 occurrences to 249 cases.”
The municipal policy against pursuing and punishing low-level traffic violators, even if they operate unregistered vehicles and wear ski masks, was another issue brought up by Oakland citizens.
This is how angry people were at the meeting last night. This is in perhaps the most left-wing city in the country. https://t.co/S9LOdzgves pic.twitter.com/qDxvNWYggm
— Leighton ? Woodhouse (@lwoodhouse) May 31, 2023
“It’s crazy. This place lacks basic sense,” a lady said. “I don’t particularly support the whole chaotic behavior, but people are obviously upset. There are assaults against women. Let’s be clear about this.”
She said, “This kind of blatant random violence has never been heard of in my existence. Who would choose to live in such a way? It’s complete BS.”
