Seeking Empathy at Johannes Mehserle - Oscar Grant Demonstrations in
Walnut Creek, CA
On July 19, 2010 a rally was held in Walnut Creek, California to support the
BART Police Officer, Johannes Mehserle who was convicted of shooting Oscar
Grant. A counter rally was also held and a heated confrontation between the two
sides ensued. I went to talk with participants on all sides about their views
and experience of the value of empathy. The following video gives an
overview of the event and below are the full interviews.
"I just
came back from the Walnut Creek pro Mehserle rally. There was actually a
larger counter rally there as well and a heated shouting match between
the two sides which were actually standing toe to toe in some cases. I
and Sherry went to all sides, and directly between the sides, asking
about empathy, as well as, listened to what people had to say. A lot
of people actually started in heated dialog between each other. An
anarchist and a Richmond City off duty woman police officer for example.
It was good and amazing to see people getting into dialog. I could see
a natural innate tendency of many people to want dialog. When I asked
people how we can build a culture of empathy they often said 'get all
sides together to talk in a less charged environment'.
Unfortunately, here's just not a lot of forums where that can
happen. Several black protesters talked about the lack of trust in the
police, but they wanted the police to come to their churches to engage
in dialogue and get to know each other. The Richmond Police Officer said
she was willing to talk with anyone anytime." Edwin
"This remarkable video captures the scene at an
unusual demonstration: one where the police make no attempt to separate the two
sides. Those defending a convicted policeman’s reputation and those attacking
the system as racist are vehemently opposed to each other. Without police lines
between them, people engage at close quarters, shout insults and even talk and
answer each other’s points, nose to nose."
Below are Full Individual Interviews and
Transcripts
Interview 1 - Seeking Empathy at Walnut Creek Johannes Mehserle Support Rally
Tell Me about Empathy?
we need to suspend judgment
we don't know what people's
experience are
to empathize you need to walk a
mile in their shoes
as a culture we need to learn more
to put aside judgment
that will create more empathy
go into others communities
like wife swap? Do community swaps
It's to say, "I want to know
someone's perspective
Interview 2 - Seeking Empathy at Walnut Creek Johannes Mehserle Support Rally
Tell Me about Empathy?
we need to talk about everything openly and
honesty
especially here in walnut creek
not have the argument they're
having here
usually in the middle is the truth
Interview 3 - Seeking Empathy at Walnut Creek Johannes Mehserle Support Rally
Tell Me about Empathy?
there's your empathy right there
compare the crowds
this was a peaceful gathering, we're not
screaming,
this was a tragedy on both sides
your going to see an empathetic response on
this side
but not on that side
they're throwing the word racism
I took a day off work to be here
how many of them are on welfare, section 8,
they're living off our tax dollars
I support their right to be here
there's no empathy over there
How to create a Culture of Empathy?
lose the culture of entitlement
come on - the culture of entitlement - this
is America
If I loose my job tomorrow and have to work
the fields
I have to do that, I have responsibilities
to my family and community
People are taking advantage and not being
empathic?
Bill Cosby said it and they ran him out of
town
children stand on their own, compete
racism cuts both ways - it's wrong
this was a tragedy on both sides
Interview 4 - Seeking Empathy at Walnut Creek Johannes Mehserle Support Rally
Tell Me about Empathy?
we're focused on the wrong thing, I'm
guilty of that too
there's an excuse that's looked for from all
sides
maybe just put it aside your differences for
even a day or 2
and come together like human beings and talk
things out
forget this thing about race, class, caste
have to be a humanitarian refocus
I feel for Johannes Mehserle, he was where
he was supposed to be
Was Grant where he was supposed to be
young people live without fear
Johannes will have a Karmic punishment
responsibilities and choices go hand in hand
the empathy comes from within
Interview 5 - Seeking Empathy at Walnut Creek Johannes Mehserle Support Rally
Tell Me about Empathy?
it is unjust to presume his guilt or
innocence
we want justice
How does that relate to empathy?
we should have empathy for both sides
the Grant and Mehserle families
any reasonable person would thing this was a
horrible accident
Empathy for both sides would support justice
Justice is relative
Interview 6 - Seeking Empathy at Walnut Creek Johannes Mehserle Support Rally
Tell Me about Empathy?
this is a sad situation
tragic for both sides
we believe the officer made a mistake
Interview 7 - Seeking Empathy at Walnut Creek Johannes Mehserle Support Rally
Tell Me about Empathy?
I'm here to support law enforcement
they don't get the empathy and respect
How to create more Empathy?
more awareness of the job of the police
everyday all the decisions they make
and they make mistakes
Interview 8 - Seeking Empathy at Walnut Creek Johannes Mehserle Support Rally
Tell Me about Empathy?
I have empathy for Oscar Grant
and his family
it's appalling to come out in support of Mehserle
they're supporting what he did
I don't have empathy for someone that shot a man in cold blood
there should be no empathy for Mehserle
You want him to suffer?
yes
he should be responsible for what he did
involuntary manslaughter was not the correct verdict
How to create more Empathy for everybody?
change how black men are viewed in society
we're profiled - negatively viewed in the
media
we're inherently
Your wanting more empathy for black men?
yes, that would prevent more events like
this from happening
it involves everyone - court system, police,
community
all races
get everyone
Interview 9 - Seeking Empathy at Walnut Creek Johannes Mehserle Support Rally
Tell Me about Empathy?
we're support law enforcement and are peaceful
these are overstepping boundaries
Go to China and see.
There's a lack of empathy?
the
law enforcement put their lives on the line every shift
what
happened was terrible
I
grew up without a father
my father was killed in the line of duty
I
know exactly what that little girl is going to go through
I
have empathy for the little girl
but
they break into a building and I have no empathy for them
they
should be taken to the cleaners
How to create more Empathy for everybody?
be
peaceful
this
side does not want to break into buildings
make
peace
They
want to destroy things
they're not listening
there's a way to handle your frustration
if
people get away from a situation like this they would be open for dialog
get
all the people together that are affected by this
the
store owners, law endowment, firemen, families
understanding
you
can't do it in this situation - it's too volatile
Interview 10 - Seeking Empathy at Walnut Creek Johannes Mehserle Support Rally
Tell Me about Empathy?
I got
empathy for the mother of Oscar Grant
I got
empathy for the police that got slaughtered
I got
empathy for Mehserle's mother
I'm
trying to be impartial
but
they're making it real difficult
empathy is not racist
responsibility,
accountability, respectability, that's what I value
if
you have that most likely you won't need emapthy
Interview 11 - Seeking Empathy at Walnut Creek Johannes Mehserle Support Rally
Tell Me about Empathy?
it's
empathy for Mehserle
a
hard working guy
and
nobody talked about his family
he
wrote an apology letter
it
was a mistake
How to create more Empathy?
it's
what each of us is taught,
this
young man made a mistake
it's
not a race thing
black
people have empathy too
Interview 12 - Seeking Empathy at Walnut Creek Johannes Mehserle Support Rally
Tell Me about Empathy?
for
empathy, you shouldn't wait until a mother loses her son
to a
senseless murder
you
should be talking empathy before.
have
dialogue with police to understand our children
you
can't have empathy if you have strangers governing a community
You
want empathy before?
otherwise it just a band aid
empathy, I made a mistake and I got caught doing it
how
can my people ban together and fix my problem
You
value Empathy?
I value
respect
if you
have respect you won't need empathy most time
when
someone is murdered that's not the time to say
how can
I be empathetic
it's
hard to be empathetic when I have my child murdered
if your
murdering people in the streets in cold blood
don't
ask for empathy
ask for
a justice system that's going to try you as a human being
then
there will be respect
when
the police respect our children
Then
they won't need empathy
What is
empathy? What is empathy?
If I
beat up a cop, they're not going to be empathetic
respect
us and then we can come to a dialog
Obama says there's an empathy Deficit?
Obama
should have told people we need to respect each other as humans
If
I respect you, then I can be empathetic to your situation
Without
respect you can't even have empathy
We need
to respect the environment
we see
cops now in riot gear, are they prepared to show empathy?
every
office should take a humanities course
how do
I humble myself before a 1,000 angry people
that's
a skill that should be taught
Interview 13 - Seeking Empathy at Walnut Creek Johannes Mehserle Support Rally
Tell Me about Empathy?
no
I'm cool
the
people I need are here in support of us
How
can we create a culture of empathy?
we can
stop the murdering, racist, classist organization called the police
Interview 14 - Seeking Empathy at Walnut Creek Johannes Mehserle Support Rally
Tell Me about Empathy?
empathy
for who?
I'm
here because I think a man was murdered
the
justice system failed
Laying on the ground, looks like your trying to put yourself in the shoes of
Oscar Grant?
we're
all in his shoes
we're
under the cops thumbs
we're
slaves of the Justice system
they
enforce the law on us,
Are
you feeling they're not empathizing with you?
me,
personally, yes
I wish
the legal system could be reformed so everyone is equal under the law
How
can we create a culture of empathy?
how do we know if a person deserves
empathy or not?
which side do we take?
which side is right?
I decide after deep thinking Mehserle
was wrong and should be punished
When is there not rupture of
connection?
we need Brotherhood and Equality
Interview 15 - Seeking Empathy at Walnut Creek Johannes Mehserle Support Rally
Tell Me about Empathy?
there's
not lot of empathy going on now
I
have empathy for the guy, and Grant and family, and everyone else
this
killing was well document
the
police lie
I
have empathy because i don't think he didn't mean to kill the person
If it
was me I'd be apologizing
I'd
tell my supporters to not fight it
remorse - maybe not always a legal mater
How
can we create a culture of empathy?
need to train police to be
negotiators for peace
instead of first action to be
violent.
talking - asking "what's the
problem"
Interview 16 - Seeking Empathy at Walnut Creek Johannes Mehserle Support Rally
Tell Me about Empathy?
as
an African America woman living in contra Costa I've experienced racism
I
think that's what's going on here.
a lot
of Caucasian people don't understand African Americans
you
need to come in our neighborhoods and have coffee with us
my
son lives in Oakland and has experienced police brutality
Interview 17 - Seeking Empathy at Walnut Creek Johannes Mehserle Support Rally
Tell Me about Empathy?
what
have they (those in power) done to
deserve empathy themselves
they
are incapable of empathizing with anyone but themselves
I
don't understand why we should have any empathy for them
How
can we create a culture of empathy?
people will be more empathetic when
their paychecks do not depend on them have no empathy
we live in a system where empathy
is a recipe for not getting ahead
our system supports psychopathic
behavior
the entire of our society teaches
us to only look out for ourselves
don't help them, your a fool if you
help them
if we had a society that was not
based on competition
and struggle to the death
capitalism is build on death and
exploitation
Sounds like you open for a more
empathic society, it's just finding the way from here to there?
My way is to open up a dialog
about it?
dialog is good
but ultimately for us to have more
empathy,
we have to stop empathizing with
the people oppressing us
we are taught to empathize with the
people in power who are not empathizing
it keeps this society from being
empathetic
Gloria Steinem say empathy is
the most revolutionary feeling, and the means are the end.
if you empathize with a
psychopath
you will empathize yourself to
death and accomplish nothing
the people who are running the
show are psychopaths
they have no regard for anyone
but themselves
they have demonstrated this time
and time again
Interview 18 - Seeking Empathy at Walnut Creek Johannes Mehserle Support Rally
Tell Me about Empathy?
show
cross cultural concern
for
plight of someone and family
the
protest to support Mehserle is anti empathy
to
even have a protest like this
show
compassion for family
do
something so this doesn't happen again
How
can we create a culture of empathy?
historically African Americans have
mistrust of police
need leaders, police to together
with people in churches to create a level of trust.
have a dialog between community and
the police
If we create a forum for
discussion you'd come to it?
yes.
Interview 19 - Seeking Empathy at Walnut Creek Johannes Mehserle Support Rally
Tell Me about Empathy?
no personal views
the officers have conducted
themselves professionally
empathetic or not they need to stay
neutral
crowed have done well too
law enforcement tries to develop
relationship with community
Interview
20 - Seeking Empathy at Walnut Creek Johannes Mehserle Support Rally
Tell Me about Empathy?
if you're an Officer you are trained
you need to be held accountable
the time given - with the seriousness of the
crime
I don't believe it's fair
the value of empathy?
he's not empathetic if you shoot someone in the back
there's no cause for that
2 years is not enough
if you're an Officer, you need to be empathetic
and protect people
shooting in the back with a tazer or pistol is unacceptable
Interview 21 - Seeking Empathy at Walnut Creek Johannes Mehserle Support Rally
Tell Me about Empathy?
anyone whose lost a family member can
be saddened by it
have to face the fact that Police go out
everyday
put their life on the line
Mehserle was doing his job
he's paying a high price
I have a lot of empathy because I have
family in the police department
except for the grace of god it could happen
to anybody
tragedies do happen
You have family in the police department?
I know what it's like to be scared and put
your life on the line
try to make a difference in the world
I worry at night every time I hear the phone
ring
will it be someone telling me it's my son
How to create a Culture of Empathy?
that's happening slowly but surely
groups of people will try to stir up the pot
no one was asking for this.
Interview 22 - Seeking Empathy at Walnut Creek Johannes Mehserle Support Rally
you assault me again and your
ass will go to jail, I guarantee it!
Tell Me about Empathy?
I have empathy for the police
department
I don't have empathy for someone
that has a knee on someone's neck and shoots him
Empathy's important to you?
It's kinda, sorta important
any officer in this group will tell
you
when you have a knee on his back
he's not going to get up
How can we create more empathy?
we can have these officers
understand that
every person that looks like me,
talks like me, walks like is not a hoodlum
You want to be seen for the
human being that you are?
right! I'm a motorcycle rider
they look at black people and the
see black people
they look at me an see Hells Angels
I'm tired of that, these people are
brothers and sisters
we love each other
And we love the police, he just
made a big screw up
my empathy is for the police
I've seem people shot to death in
Vietnam
How can we create more empathy?
we need people with cool heads
I'm dieing, I have only 6 month to
live
I'm like to see police officers and
people like this here
and sit down in a room and let them
talk
until they have some understanding
Have people get together and
have a dialog so they can understand
yes
I saw shooting on TV
It could have been an accident
what hurts me the most is Grants
family will not have him there
When I came home from Vietnam I was
spat on
I know how a lot of these
people feel
I'll tell you about empathy
my friend was shot in Vietnam
imagine?
Both sides are in pain
Interview 23 - Seeking Empathy at Walnut Creek Johannes Mehserle Support Rally
