Pain, Violence, Justice and a Quest for Empathy at the Oakland Oscar Grant - Johannes Mehserle Verdict Protest, July 8, 2010
Here is a 10 minute video and around 40 of the raw interviews I took at the protest.  I went around and asked people to tell me about empathy and how it related to the shooting, trial and protest. I hope this will start a dialog about the role of empathy in society and especially about how we can start building a culture of empathy.

Pain, Violence, Justice and a Quest for Empathy
at the Oakland Oscar Grant - Johannes Mehserle Verdict Protest
 

 

See Video on Youtube: Pain, Violence, Justice and a Quest for Empathy at Oakland, Grant-Mehserle Verdict Protest

Full Interviews below

Raw 01 - Seeking Empathy at Oscar Grant-Mehserle Oakland Verdict Protest

• Tell Me About empathy?

  • Walking in someone's shoes - it's hard

  • you have billions of people with different thoughts

• That's a lot of shoes? 

  • Yes, that's a lot of shoes

  • I hope this all comes down to the mat

  • I think he's going to get jail

  • been trained - but abused a gun

  • The man was just frightened

    • It was like a mistake

    • he shouldn't be in that situation

    • he was in a frightened stage right there

• Needed more training in empathy?

  • yes, needs more training

  • all these signs out here about cop killers

  • they need to be trained before you can become a cop and all 

  • Why do you go in there scared?

  • Don't be scared

  • I got hit in the face when they stopped me

    • they were looking for marijuana but didn't find any

    • they left

• The fear maybe makes empathy shrink-up?

  • right

• What can we do to build a culture of empathy?

  • keep doing what we're doing now

  • we can't go behind closed doors and talk

  • that won't do anything

  • We have to get out here and voice our speech

  • that's what it is

Raw 02 - Seeking Empathy at Oscar Grant - Mehserle Verdict Protest in Oakland

• Tell Me About empathy?

  • There is no empathy

  • they don't look for it anymore

  • people in general

  • especially police - they don't look for it

  • they don't look for the problem behind the issues

  • that's what empathy is

• What can we do to create more empathy?

  • we can start looking into judicial system

  • find out what's really going on in it

  • there's to much cover up

  • yesterday 2 men were convicted for allegedly shooting at a cop

• You're upset about this?

  • Upset! where's the justice??

  • these men got 36 to life

• How does it relate to empathy?

  • Angry!!! I'd like justice

  • The Police don't live in the neighborhoods

  • you have to experience it

  • you have to come from it

  • you can't read a book

  • it goes on and on

   

   

Raw 03 - Seeking Empathy at Oscar Grant - Mehserle Verdict Protest in Oakland

• Tell Me About empathy?

  • all people are connected

  • meets a definition of empathy

  • some empathy for people we are all connected to

Raw 04 - Seeking Empathy at Oscar Grant - Mehserle Verdict Protest in Oakland

• Tell Me About empathy?

  • Mary Foran - Unitarian Justice Council

  • empathy is one of the reasons I'm here

  • here with sadness and hope

  • Young people standing up

  • all lives are worthy

  • tragedy for both families

  • here to be a witness to resisting violence

  • Oakland can be a community of diversity

• How to create more empathy?

  • getting in conversation

  • and listening

  • try to imagine ourselves in another persons situation

  • we get another

  • taking a risk to listen

Raw 05 - Seeking Empathy at Oscar Grant - Mehserle Verdict Protest in Oakland

• Tell Me About empathy?

  • Orlando Johnson

  • empathy and sympathy to me

  • empathy is when the judge says

    • we're going to find you for involuntary manslaughter

  • my sympathy is for the pain and hurt of the family

  • what I can do is is educate

  • My phone number is...

Raw 06 - Seeking Empathy at Oscar Grant - Mehserle Verdict Protest in Oakland

• Tell Me About empathy?

  • my empathy goes to the family

  • it's history

  • we got to come together and connect

  • learn form the situation and learn from

  • I can't imagine what the family is going through

  • it's sad

Raw 07 - Seeking Empathy at Oscar Grant - Mehserle Verdict Protest in Oakland

• Tell Me About empathy?

  • a lot of people don't know what empathy is

  • they may have empathy for one or two others

  • it should be able to spread out

• A narrow empathy?

  • yes, if at all

  • it's difficult to put yourself into others shoes

  • last thing we learned

• How does this event relate to empathy?

  • lot of people here have empathy to turn up

• You have empathy for what's going on here?

  • I hope so

  • I heard Uncle Bobby on the radio

  • I'm glad I came down

  • I'm feeling more connected

Raw 08 - Seeking Empathy at Oscar Grant - Mehserle Verdict Protest in Oakland

• Tell Me About empathy?

  • empathy is ??

  • all foreign interests get out

  • go back to ancient ways

  • connect, but we need healing

  • our civil war is so bad

Raw 09 - Seeking Empathy at Oscar Grant - Mehserle Verdict Protest in Oakland

• Tell Me About empathy?

  • we are all Oscar Grant, the whole system is guilty

  • the mayor need to write us a grant

  • his name is Oscar Grant, in his name

• How does the value of empathy play into that?

  • we want the mayor to write us a grant

• How about empathy?

  • we're all trying to become one

  • if that has anything to do with empathy

  • I'm telling you we want the mayor to write us a grant
     

Raw 10 - Seeking Empathy at Oscar Grant - Mehserle Verdict Protest in Oakland

• Tell Me About empathy?

  • Empathy is a 4 letter word

  • love

• Empathy is love?

  • you better believe it

  • if you have empathy, you must have love

  • a 4 letter word

Raw 11 - Seeking Empathy at Oscar Grant - Mehserle Verdict Protest in Oakland

• Tell me about empathy?

  • when you look through their eyes and in their shoes

  • you can't feel what they feel

  • you can't understand what they're thinking at the movement

  • there's no Justice in empathy

  • as far as the murder goes

  • you can be sympathetic

  • what about his mom and kids

  • does the guy have a clear conscience?

• The Jurors didn't empathize?

  • they were sympathetic about it

  • but they're not thinking of Grant's family

  • we'll give it involuntary man slaughter and make it go away

  • they didn't put themselves in his shoes

  • your only 22 once in your lifetime

• How can we deepen empathy?

  • Look at yourself in the mirror

  • educate yourself

  • see if you can impact other's life

  • help them up

  • so they can pass it on

  • there's power in numbers

  • speak out, to anyone who needs

• We look for people who need help and reach out?

  • it's not look, it happens on it's own

  • giving a young lady a dollar for a soda

  • It's not about me, me, me, me

  • it's about somebody else too

Raw 12 - Seeking Empathy at Oscar Grant - Mehserle Verdict Protest in Oakland

• Tell Me About empathy?

  • empathy to me is the opposite from sympathy

  • you feel the same pain that's happening

  • sympathy is sympathy to what happened

  • empathy is that same thing could happen to you.

  • I'm empathetic about this brother because these things are happening to me all the time

  • I haven't been shot in the back yet, but I know it's coming

Raw 13 - Seeking Empathy at Oscar Grant - Mehserle Verdict Protest in Oakland

• Tell Me About empathy?

  • Empathy means you envision and embody what it means to be a victim of that kind of violence and struggle against the power systems
     

Raw 14 - Seeking Empathy at Oscar Grant - Mehserle Verdict Protest in Oakland

• Tell Me About empathy?

  • empathy and sympathy

  • it's tragic

  • I don't know how we will progress if we can't get past the sympathy

• Honey Bear listens

• Obama and empathy

• want more integrity?

• disingenuous, he's a fraud

• come clean with the public

• be honest

• words without action

• He doesn't have integrity

• I'm from Florida and respect for Life and Ocean

• Obama allows BP to run cleanup

• he's not leading

• Empathy is to have direct knowledge of pain or joy

• sympathy is intellectual

• Empathy is direct relationship, physical

• I tell you the taste of a fish, until you taste it, you will not know.

Raw 15 - Seeking Empathy at Oscar Grant - Mehserle Verdict Protest in Oakland

• Tell Me About empathy?

  • the empathy I can engage in is just to be present

  • to see they're real people here

  • I'm just here for them

Raw 16 - Seeking Empathy at Oscar Grant - Mehserle Verdict Protest in Oakland

• Tell Me About empathy?

  • Edward 21 years

  • Empathy, - those 3 officers don't want to be here

  • I'm trying to put myself  through school

  • Oakland don't want to do anything for us

  • keep us segregated in West Oakland

  • Don't do the back people wrong

• People aren't empathizing with you?

  • they're not empathizing with us at all

  • unemployment, no chance to better yourself

• How to create a culture of empathy?

  • that's the question

  • first come down here, but not just on these kind of days

  • on a regular days

  • see the everyday life

  • only 30 % of homicides get solved in Oakland

• We need to listen to each other?

  • starts with outreach with the youth

  • see what the kids want

  • just come down and talk to us

  • the police don't come down to talk with them

  • people come back and police their own neighborhoods

  • The everyday stresses

  • my brother was killed. it was unsolved

• You want the police to come down and talk to you?

  • yes, not everyone wants to talk ignorantly to them

  • there's things we would like to get out to them

  • but we want respect back

  • you come in with an attitude of your superior

  • of course no-one wants to respect you

  • your a human being just like us

  • your job is no more important that ours

Raw 17 - Seeking Empathy at Oscar Grant - Mehserle Verdict Protest in Oakland

• Tell Me About empathy?

  • you have to start with empathy

  • to connect with anybody

  • breaking down walls

  • that's why we're here

• I getting a little nervous about the energy?

  • people are fed up

  • tired of asking for permission

  • people are demanding justice

  • hopefully this will end in the right way

  • the cops have blocked everyone in on all sides

  • there's no escape

• How can we develop more empathy?

  • Education

  • start from the beginning and tell the truth

  • kids are getting books with  lies

  • truth and honesty

Raw 18 - Seeking Empathy at Oscar Grant - Mehserle Verdict Protest in Oakland

• Tell Me About empathy?

  • justice, justice in the street

  • there's no justice

  • the system mistreats people

  • we're out to change that

  • the revolution

• What does justice have to do with empathy?

  • if you don't' have empathy you won't have justice

  • we need justice for Oscar Grant

• Do you have thoughts on empathy?

  • Revolution the communist party

  • mobilizes tens a millions of people for the revolution

• Excuse me, About empathy?

  • no, no, we're talking about justice

  • We're doing something else here

  • that's a good question

  • I'm not answering questions

  • this is not for you

• How can people connect?

  • we want empathy for the oppressed

• You want empathy for the oppressed?

  • I appreciate what your doing

  • but we're doing something else

  • some other time I'd love to talk with you

Raw 19 - Seeking Empathy at Oscar Grant - Mehserle Verdict Protest in Oakland

• Tell Me About empathy?

  • I have 2 bothers who got killed in Richmond

• The police didn't empathize with you?

  • the police attacked me for no reason

  • they did me like Oscar Grant,

  • but they just didn't shoot me

• How can we create a culture of empathy?

  • we need more black people in charge

  • more people who live in the community

  • instead of people who come from different areas

• Local people in charge?

  • if you come into peoples house and you don't know them

  • it's not going to work

• They'd know how it feels?

  • yes, brothers and sisters

• We need to get connected locally?

  • yeah, yeah

   

Raw 20 - Seeking Empathy at Oscar Grant - Mehserle Verdict Protest in Oakland

• Tell Me About empathy?

  • Treat others you want to be treated

  • be the change you want to see in the  world

• What does it have to do with what's going on here with Justice?

  • not a lot

• there's not a lot of empathy?

  • that's to be expected

• How can we have more empathy?

  • have more justice

  • We can hope

  • We can try

Raw 21 - Seeking Empathy at Oscar Grant - Mehserle Verdict Protest in Oakland

• Tell Me About empathy?

  • we are all from Allah

  • I have love for all gods creation

  • that inspires my belief in Justice

  • all comes from Allah

  • my love for Allah drives my sense of Justice

  • empathy is part of that.

  • respect, humanity, love for community

  • greed, luxury drives this system

  • we want a system based on morality, humanity

  • based on empathy, on Islam

  • submission to god

  • I am a Sicilian immigrant

  • I empathize with African American Community

  • and all oppressed communities

  • every to stand up for Justice

  • stand up against oppression

  • Hotel Workers Union -

  • Jihad - standing up for Justice

• What's relationship of Empathy and Exploitation?

  • I don't feel sorry for people,

  • I have love for people

  • I'm mad about what's going on in the world

  • this is a manifestation
     

Raw 22 - Seeking Empathy at Oscar Grant - Mehserle Verdict Protest in Oakland

• Tell Me About empathy?

  • I understand what you're saying to a degree

  • it takes more than

  • it's action

  • people care more about their interests

  • casual good people, not on regular basis

  • Practice makes perfect, no it makes improvement

  • we are lead by example

  • Live for the moment which may not be the bigger

• How to make culture of empathy?

  • not just words, action

  • I'm here to plant seeds

  • find group of people

  • not easy

  • much as given, much is required

• Any lessons of empathy?

  • learned a lot

  • I work with disabled comedians

  • putting together puzzles

  • I want rewards from helping people

  • Planning Seeds of empathy

• We need to plant the seed of empathy?

  • takes one person to make a difference

• When did you feel empathy?

  • you planted a seed of empathy in me

  • When people give me empathy I have more for others.

  • you have reserves of empathy

  • look at the bigger picture.

Raw 23 - Seeking Empathy at Oscar Grant - Mehserle Verdict Protest in Oakland

• Tell Me About empathy?

  • I am very upset,  very disturbing

  • blatant abuse of super power by the police

  • Empathy is Standing with Oscar Grant

  • being in his shoes

• How can we create more empathy?

  • it's not police in riot gear.

Raw 24 - Seeking Empathy at Oscar Grant - Mehserle Verdict Protest in Oakland

• Tell Me About empathy?

  • police have no empathy

  • they don't have any mercy or regrets

  • I don't care about the police

  • They don't care about us

  • they just care about protecting  the banks

  • they don't care about protecting me

• If police don't care about you, you don't want to care about them?

  • I don't like police

  • they don't like me,

  • they see me and they don't like me

  • they see a young minority, they don't like them

  • they're not here to protect us

  • they're here to protect the state, and not us

Raw 25 - Seeking Empathy at Oscar Grant - Mehserle Verdict Protest in Oakland

• Outside people-agitators have taken over

• they're breaking windows

• Police are calling an unlawful assembly

• it's becoming an uncontrollable situation

• How does empathy play into this?

  • you have to have empathy and common sense

  • you can't have people come in here and tear up the place

  • yes we want to voice our opinion and disgust of the outcome

  • but we can't allow people to tear our city up

  • those who are here to do damage are here to do damage

  • you can't talk them down

  • some people are so full of rage and anger

  • once night falls it's going to get dangerous,

  • I'd advise people to leave.

Raw 26 - Seeking Empathy at Oscar Grant - Mehserle Verdict Protest in Oakland

• Tell Me About empathy?

  • I'm not articulate

  • ask the cops about empathy

  • How are you feeling about the verdict

  • everyone else feels like it's fucked up

  • chances are a lot of the cops feel the say way

• I asked and they can't talk on  camera?

  • 70 are getting laid off,

  • Empathy, I don't know.

  • the cops are coming in

  • there's a lot of feelings going around

Raw 27 - Seeking Empathy at Oscar Grant - Mehserle Verdict Protest in Oakland

• Tell Me About empathy?

  • I'm working hard empathize with the guys here

  • I'm here to listen

  • I'm praying peace and blessings for the police

• How does empathy play into this?

  • it's clear there are no good and bad guys here

  • there's a system that's broken

  • my anger and despair is around the system

  • I'm praying for everyone

• So maybe create a more empathic system?

  • absolutely, absolutely,

  • a restorative justice system  and an unarmed police force is what I'm interested in

Raw 28 - Seeking Empathy at Oscar Grant - Mehserle Verdict Protest in Oakland

• Tell Me About empathy?

  • hope everyone get home without getting hurt

  • and that everyone does not hurt anyone else

  • want everyone to get home safe

• Are you promoting empathy by what your doing?

  • I believe I am

  • I'm doing my best

Raw 29 - Seeking Empathy at Oscar Grant - Mehserle Verdict Protest in Oakland

• Tell Me About empathy?

  • empathy, we're empathizing with these young people

  • unless the elders stand up and protect them from the police violence

  • they attacked young

• Standing between the two sides?

  • I'm on the side of the people who are here angry and protesting

  • we know it can happen to anybody

  • trying to protect from provocation by the police

• There's a lack of empathy going on?

  • the police are not here to be empathetic

  • police are here to control

  • it's about control, power,

  • shutting down people who are riotously angry

  • provoking

  • If anything the young people were very empathetic

  • speaking from their heart, no violence,

  • until these cops started moving in on us

  • even now there's no real violence

• How about empathy for the police behind you?

  • there are different ways of policing

  • We've been fighting 30 years to get community control of police

  • We've been trying to develop an empathetic relationship with our cops

  • we're still very far apart

• Your open to an empathetic relationship with them?

  • this is not the time to ask me about empathy

  • when I'm jabbed in the back by a bunch of cops

  • being jabbed up the street

  • when we're peacefully protesting

  • I have no empathy for them right now

  • If they want my empathy they can back off and leave us be

  • this is what the streets are for

  • your name?

  • Ocean? Newman,  I'm 71

• What can we do to create more empathy?

  • they're trained as cops to be in control and indifferent

  • they have no sense of the vulnerability these young people have

  • they don't see them as their children

  • we see them as our children

• Can we do it by more talking?

  • we need a top down cultural shift

• How to create a culture of Empathy?

  • try for justice

• Forget about empathy and go for Justice?

  • that's the first step

  • your not going to get empathy unless you have justice

  • or peace

  • if somebody has a foot on your neck

  • your not going to have a whole lot of empathy, until they get off,

  • then we can have a cup of coffee

  • Now they have gas masks on

  • ready to shoot us with rubber bullets, bean bags and tear gas

• Maybe could hold a conference on building a culture of empathy and get everyone together?

  • The police are not allowed to talk on camera.

  • They're talking plenty with their gas masks and clubs

  • they threatened us

  • they called a illegal assembly

  • everyone peacefully here is now illegal

  • each one of us now is subject to arrest

• Who can talk to us?

  • there are 2 city council member over there

Raw 30 - Seeking Empathy at Oscar Grant - Mehserle Verdict Protest in Oakland
Council District 4 - Jean Quan

• Tell Me About empathy?

  • I wish people would have empathy on both sides

  • Not throw  bottles at the police which almost hit me

  • and I wish the police would calm down

• Your putting yourself in-between?

  • just being good community monitors here

• How to create a culture of empathy?

  • I hope we use the Oscar Grant as an opportunity

  • to talk about what's happening with young people

  • in particular young men

  • no jobs, no schools

  • Police: Walk up Broadway! Walk up Broadway!

  • How far? How far?

Raw 31 - Seeking Empathy at Oscar Grant - Mehserle Verdict Protest in Oakland

• Tell Me About empathy?

  • We'd just like to stand here and not be pushed

  • and that people don't get shot in the back

  • this is civil liberty

  • this is Bull Shit

• What does it have to do with empathy?

  • it doesn't mean shit to me

  • the mother fucker shot a guy in the back

• A lack of empathy?

  • I rode that train

  • it could have been me or  her

  • could have been you

  • we could put that guy in prison for murder

• A justice approach?

  • I feel bad for the guy that got shot

  • I'm here for myself, for Californians

  • we don't need this

• How can we create more empathy?

  • maybe these guys could quite pushing me in the back

  • and we could show support for the guy

Raw 32 - Seeking Empathy at Oscar Grant - Mehserle Verdict Protest in Oakland

• Tell Me About empathy?

  • I was in a class

  • I felt I was punched in the stomach

• What does empathy mean to you?

  • you don't kill a handcuffed guy

  • face down in front of you

  • Police: Walk down Broadway, Walk down Broadway

  • I can't believe that Mehserle...

Raw 33 - Seeking Empathy at Oscar Grant - Mehserle Verdict Protest in Oakland

• Tell Me About empathy?

  • I feel for the guy getting arrested

  • and for the Police Officers

  • some just doing jobs

  • business has to go on

  • and Oscar Grant and Family

  • Empathy, I have to think about that for a second

  • It's hard in a situation like this

  • I want to see hate stop

  • Only end hate by learning to communicate

  • don't let things escalate

    • people throwing things

    • or getting shot

  • learn to love one another and ourselves

  • we have to stop perpetrating violence

Raw 34 - Seeking Empathy at Oscar Grant - Mehserle Verdict Protest in Oakland

• Tell Me About empathy?

  • as far as empathy goes, I'm not feeling it right now

  • there's no empathy what-so-ever for us

  • it's just anger

  • there's no connection

  • stressful situation

  • the pushing is adding to the stress

  • I'm getting pretty juiced up here myself

  • I want to do something but kind of holding back

• This is nerve-racking, I feel myself getting all kind of nervous.

  • O yeah, it's intense, man

• How do you maintain a sense of empathy?

  • how do you keep a sense of composure?

• I feeling a bit hysterical.

  • it's not cool man

• At a time like this what kind of stuff should I ask people about empathy?

  • no man, your doing great

  • it's all in the question

• I tried asking the police but I don't think they can talk on camera.

• you can't hear their side so it's not a dialog

  • it's one of those situations that does not allow for it.

  • You just don't see it

• How does empathy play into this situation?

  • Second guy: I mean, no justice no peace

• Empathy is putting yourself in everyone else's shoes?

  • I am Oscar Grant

  • I work my ass off

  • I'm harassed by the cops

• If they started empathizing with you you'd empathize with them?

  • of course, but that's not going to happen

  • look at history

  • this is the first time a cop has put on trial in California

• A harsher sentence would have meant they were listening more?

  • justice would have been justice

  • he should been held to a higher standard

  • all these people being beat down

  • just because they're standing on 14th and Broadway

  • this is a pubic street

• Justice is balancing the scale but it's not real empathy?

  • empathy is about the heart and soul

  • it's  genuine

  • it's a real connection

  • I never seen Mehserle say sorry to the family or anybody

  • he's just sorry for himself

• He's afraid himself and not listening?

  • he never once tried to reach out

  • call or write the family

  • if it was an accident wouldn't he reach out to the family?

• Some bodies got to reach out somewhere, I'm trying to do my part.

  • you're doing a great job

Raw 35 - Seeking Empathy at Oscar Grant - Mehserle Verdict Protest in Oakland

• Tell Me About empathy?

  • the cops can do whatever they want

  • and they're doing that now.

  • you can feel this terror

• Your feeling a lack of empathy?

  • from the cops

Raw 36 - Seeking Empathy at Oscar Grant - Mehserle Verdict Protest in Oakland

• Tell Me About empathy?

  • I'm not even from here dude

  • I just wound up here, well, it's cool

• Any thoughts about empathy? do you value it?

  • sure

• Obama says we have an empathy deficit.

  • all I want to do right now is get a pizza and beer

  • and we can't leave

• There's the Bart

Raw 37 - Seeking Empathy at Oscar Grant - Mehserle Verdict Protest in Oakland

• Tell Me About empathy?

  • it's like we're doing now for the person who got shoot

  • I have 3 year old son, I worry about his future

  • if he's wrongfully accuses and judged.

  • I feel it's not working because it's a police officer

• He wasn't amply punished?

  • no he wasn't

  • he wasn't even trained

Raw 38 - Seeking Empathy at Oscar Grant - Mehserle Verdict Protest in Oakland

• Tell Me About empathy?

  • I came to witness and be an observer

  • empathy is standing in other's shoes

  • hard for police to stand in the shoes

  • hard for community to stand in shoes of police

  • they closed in

  • they got scared and declared it illegal

  • it's hard to empathize with them

  • they're trained to not be more peaceful

  • that's part of what we need to do is have cops trained in diversity

  • be trained in empathy

• The police can't talk on the job

  • that's what I think happened

  • they got scared,

  • they got jumpy

  • the whole system is set up for hatred

  • instead of empathy and peace

• How to Build a Culture of Empathy?

  • people are trying to talk with each other

  • I talk with liberals about it

  • white people are the key

  • we support the system

  • it hurts us and everybody

  • I talked with the older black men standing for peace and justice

  • he said, "thanks for being here."

  • I knew what he meant

  • I want peace and empathy

Eric Butler on Empathy: Oscar Grant - Mehserle Oakland Verdict Protest Preparation

• Tell Me About empathy?

  • Restorative Justice councilor for Oakland Youth

  • liaison for high school

  • Trying to organize and educate kid without violence

  • it works well with empathy

  • I connect with them

  • In the school I teach restorative justice

  • play a role of councilor

  • I empathize with them

  • Restorative Justice is coming from a place of empathy

    • instead of punishment

• How you learned about empathy?

  • Hurricane Katrina survivor

  • why was there no support for us?

  • approach the situation in a positive way

  • being empathetic with people over me

  • walking in someone's shoes

  • understanding where they come from

  • understand the layers and layers that come before

• How to Build a Culture of Empathy?

  • Educate, educate, educate

  • we have a me first culture in Oakland

  • the people that know better have to get out there and talk to our kids

Rashad Lee on Empathy: Oscar Grant - Mehserle Oakland Verdict Protest Preparation

• Tell Me About empathy?

  • here at city of Oakland

  • I work with entry specialists

  • work with Seta

  • active in city

  • here for the security meeting for the Oscar Grant protest

  • create a positive direction

• How does empathy relate?

  • put them in other persons shoes

  • it's a chance to vent

  • rioting is not good

  • empathy in this situation

• A time you experienced empathy?

  • Kadafi Foundation

  • helped me when my brother was killed in West Oakland

  • A lot of me left, My heart became a ice box

  • Kadafi Foundation reached out

  • let me use my words

  • other's put themselves in my shoes

  • I now talk with families that have a loss

  • you are not alone

  • empathy - I love that word

  • empathy is stronger than sympathy

  • place yourself into someone

  • it can help our city come back

• How to build a culture of empathy?

  • Education

  • street degrees

  • learning

  • empathy go a long way

    • the next mayor should stand on that Strong

    • give that to everyone

    • I love that everyone puts themselves in everyone's shoes

Todd Walker on Empathy: Oscar Grant - Mehserle Oakland Verdict Protest Preparation

• Tell Me About empathy?

  • with restoring Intercity Peace

  • deal with a lot of the violence

  • want community to get together

  • logic - teach them how to think

  • listen

• Listening is Empathy?

  • yes, I listen in meetings

  • listening will get you a long ways

  • the kids need someone to listen