Injustice was served yesterday..

Yesterday, Johannes Mehserle, a former BART police officer who shot an unarmed man, Oscar Grant, in the back, while he was held down on the floor with his hands restricted, after a New Years celebration while dozens of onlookers watched, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter- a convicted that could give him 4 years in prison, at most.

Though this was the first case in which a police officer was convicted of a killing while on duty, the 5 angles shot on videotape prove that this was an unprovoked killing of an unarmed man worthy of a more serious punishment than this slap on the wrist. Many legal analysts and community activists are incredulous- what do we have to do to make sure that we are protected against racially-driven police brutality? This was an execution-style killing videotaped by 5 different people form 5 different angles... Must we have a sworn statement from a defendant that he is guilty before we get some justice?

What is even more maddening is the lack of media coverage of this issue. Some argue it is not as big a racial situation as it seems to some. This is highly debatable. Grant was called a "N*gger" in the moments before his death. Moreover, there is video evidence that Mehserle severely beat a black man 6 weeks prior to this shooting. Anyhow, whatever the case, just the legal precedent it sets- a successful suit against a police officer found liable for an on-duty killing, should have been reason enough for wide-scale media coverage. Not to mention, the hours of peace rallying for the year prior to, and the hours following the verdict. Plus, the rioting. Still, this decision was overshadowed by LeBron James' announcement that he would relocate to the Miami Heat.

This is just the latest in the ongoing saga- People v. Police, Justice v. Bigotry, Peace v. Racism. Til then, know that the revolution will not be televised. Find your alternative sources of news. Be educated and aware. Be safe.