Oakland Protestors Support Cop-Killer- Say He Needs Sympathy Too.

by Roy C | March 26, 2009 at 08:26 pm

1611 views | 46 Recommendations | 17 comments

March 22nd, 2009, Lovelle Mixon, a parolee stopped for a traffic violation, gunned down the two officers who had stopped him.

Mixon fled the scene. When SWAT officers came to apprehend him, Mixon killed two more officers, the second officer pronounced dead several days later when taken off life support. Mixon was killed during the attempted arrest.

About 60 people rallied to protest the killing of Mixon, Wednesday, and to decry the Oakland Police.

This is the second occasion of city-wide protests in Oakland, Ca, against the police. The last one was in protest of the killing of Oscar Grant by a BART police officer. The officer has been charged with homicide.

Despite the apparent criminal behavior of Mixon and Mixon's DNA implicating him in the rape of a 12 year-old girl, protesters shouted their sympathy for Mixon, and cried, "No justice. No peace".

Oakland, Ca. is a city of one-third African-Americans and has a substantial minority representation in the police department and throughout city government. Of the four officers killed by Mixon, three were white and one was Asian-American.

About 60 people marched and rallied in Oakland on Wednesday to condemn the police and honor Lovelle Mixon, who was killed by Oakland police after he fatally shot four officers Saturday.

"OPD you can't hide - we charge you with genocide," chanted the demonstrators as they marched along MacArthur Boulevard, near the intersection with 74th Avenue where Mixon, 26, a fugitive parolee, gunned down two motorcycle officers who had pulled him over in a traffic stop. He killed two more officers who tried to capture him where he was hiding in his sister's apartment nearby.

The protest was organized by the Oakland branch of the Uhuru Movement, whose flyers for the march declared, "Stop Police Terror." Many marchers wore T-shirts featuring Mixon's photo, including a woman identified by march organizers as Mixon's mother. The woman declined to comment and gave her name only as Athena.

Lolo Darnell, one of Mixon's cousins at the demonstration, said, "He needs sympathy too. If he's a criminal, everybody's a criminal."

Asked about police allegations that Mixon was suspected in several rapes, including that of a 12-year-old girl, marcher Mandingo Hayes said, "He wasn't a rapist. I don't believe that."

Bystanders had mixed reactions. Nicole Brown said that she can't condone murder but that police don't respect residents of the area. Daria Belt said she had no sympathy for the protesters but sympathized for Mixon's family.

E-mail Charles Burress at cburress@sfchronicle.com

A few months ago, a BART transit police officer killed a young man that he had detained for arrest, with no apparent justification.

In the early hours of January 1st, BART police shot and killed a 22 year old man, Oscar Grant, on the platform of the Fruitvale BART station in Oakland. Witnesses report that Grant was "lying on his stomach with his hands out in a non-threatening position when he was shot". Police have confirmed Grant was unarmed and have suggested the shooting was an accident. Grant lived in Hayward and leaves behind a 4-year-old daughter.

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Roy C

at 23:28 on March 26th, 2009

This is something to see. Esta, have you looked at the second video? This is where legitimate social protest crosses the line, and it happens because the group doesn't want to see anything wrong with itself, only with the other side.

This is being managedy by political radicals in Oakland.

Joe D (not verified)

at 07:31 on March 27th, 2009

This really shows how RACE can blind people. If this guy were white, we would have not heard anything other than four police officers were killed. I would have thought to myself..."what a tragedy..." and also thought that the guy deserved what he got...I certainly would not have had a freakin public display in his honor...but I guess that killing four cops and raping a little girl isn't enough to get looked down upon in THAT community....

Amy Judd

at 08:20 on March 27th, 2009

I can't understand this story. It doesn't matter who you are or what the colour of your skin is, if you kill anyone and are then killed in return you do not deserve a rally to protest your killing! I am really shocked by this; I am thinking perhaps the protesters just wanted something to protest about the police...

Tina Kells

at 15:30 on March 27th, 2009

I totally agree Amy. Just because you are of one race doesn't mean you are automatically the good guy in every scenario. This was a rampage killing and doesn't compare to other cases where police were (perhaps) in the wrong. There is never an excuse for a mass murder like this.

Those protestors make me sick.

Roy C

at 10:26 on March 27th, 2009

I would say something akin to reverse racism was in play here.

JeffHuang

at 15:32 on March 27th, 2009

I guess I can't speak for those people who are protesting because I'm not there and not living in the same situations as they are, but it just doesn't seem right/deserving when that man killed 4 police.

jazzyzazzy

at 16:44 on March 27th, 2009

Naw this is all wrong a smell a rat here i think it is most likely got more to do with racism,How must the families of the cops that got shot feel about this ! this is not justified in any way you care to look at it.an eye for an eye comes to mind here.God love them those protesters for they know no better.

GetwhatchaGet (not verified)

at 10:40 on March 28th, 2009

When society acts like these thugs they get treat as such. Law Enforcement is the last line between social order and civil war. If you want to act like a wild animal in a social setting than deal with how you are treated. The guy was being stopped for a traffic violation and he kills two cops and runs? He got what he deserved. Sadly the other two died as well! As for the protesters if they want to rise up like their fellow animal may they too meet the same fate.

HighPlainsSifter

at 12:34 on March 28th, 2009

It is a sad commentary on the poor neighborhoods of America. They feel like the world is against them and when something like this happens it is a chance for them to be heard and recognized. I have to believe that they knew and know what this man did was wrong. But when you are feeling righteous, facts are tossed out the window.

I feel more and more people will feel this way about many things that are happening in America.

SARAH 3434325 (not verified)

at 13:38 on March 28th, 2009

PATHETIC! THIS IDIOT WASTE OF LIFE KILLED PEOPLE! SHAME ON ALL OF THOSE PATHETIC LOOSERS THAT ARE SUPPORTING HIM.

Ten (not verified)

at 20:43 on March 29th, 2009

Just FYI I don't condone Lovelle Mixon he's a murdering asshole and rapist, however did you know the officer who killed Lovelle Mixon his name is Pat Gonzales. He has murdered two of my friends Gary King Jr who was shot& Killed by gonzales after he was beat up tased and stripped, in July 2008 he murdered my nephews father Mac Woodfox in oakland claiming he was armed he was NOT. Same officer shot a 17yr old in the back in 2002 and he is paraslyzed now. It makes ya wonder does oakland keep its killer cops ready like marked hitmen?

Ten (not verified)

at 20:39 on March 29th, 2009

WE ARE OAKLAND!!!! And OAKLAND does not condone violence. I live here and understand the relationship between cops and people out here. I am a very light skinned(could probably pas for white amongst white people) biracial woman and know first hand that i am treated with respect when aproached by police, however if i have a person who is black riding we both get handcuffed and the car gets searched, I have NO PRIOR CRIMINAL HISTORY and neither do my friends. There is a CLEAR difference, so i get what they are saying. However, this man Lovelle MIxon was aterrible man he has done violent thing to more than 3 people! I don't care rape murder assault what the F!@K is the difference. If i had been driving that day and happened to hit his Brand New USED BUcket I mean CAR he mighta shot me and whoever i was with, So in the end this guy was an asshole who didn't deserve to live but if he would have shot me and four passengers, do you think anyone would care, stop traffic on 880 for the whole day, sell out the oracle arena for my life NO. The Cops OUt here SUCK! But so Do the people! I have had 3 people last year i know that were killed by opd and they had no reason. Also if no ones is paying attention The REAL DEAL Murdering Cop Pat Gonzzales was the officer that killed Lovelle Mixon!!!! I mean this man has paralyzed a 17 yr old in 2002, killed Gary King Jr after he tased Beat and stripped him, killed Lovelle Mixon and theres more Google Officer Pat Gonzales You'll See!!!!

Killer Cops Need to pay Too Not just Killer Criminals!

Msday (not verified)

at 05:29 on March 30th, 2009

You know what, I could really care less about how Gonzales killed your friends. Real innocent law abiding citizens rarely get shot by police! If you bring that type of attention to yourself, then maybe you deserve it. It is clear that you are insane and could care less about the young BLACK female victim this criminal raped. Why is it that you black men are so blinded by your victim status until you fail to see the women and children BLACK MEN are terrorizing. You people (black Men) are disgracing and pulling down the ENTIRE black men by always crying wolf when you are clearly wrong. You always need someone to blame and are quick to hit the streets protesting "whitey". What about BLACKEY? As far as I am concerned, YOU are the MAN, I and every other black woman and child need to fear.

Lolo Kane (not verified)

at 15:25 on April 4th, 2009

Sometimes police have to kill. Stop breaking the law, stop putting yourself in sketchy situations, stop hanging out with thugs. I am black, and me nor anyone I know have ever been messed with by police. Why? BECAUSE WE DON'T BREAK THE LAW!!!!! Get it?

JoyceL (not verified)

at 13:01 on March 30th, 2009

Are you kidding me??? I am so shocked at this protest. I can not believe what I am seeing and hearing. This man is a known criminal who just killed four officers and was a suspect of the rape of a 12 year old girl. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? You are really saying he was a slave, please guys slavery ended years ago. My opinion is the more you continue to talk and talk this way you are truly segregating yourselves.

GL (not verified)

at 22:45 on April 2nd, 2009

So, Ten.

You mean the Pat Gonzalez who was shot in the shoulder and the helmet by Lovelle Mixon while Mixon gunned down his friends and colleagues? That Pat Gonzalez?

Frankly, regardless of your prior beef with Gonzalez, your comments are ill-placed and disingenuous here. You need to just shut up.

MORT1223 (not verified)

at 07:47 on April 16th, 2009

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