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OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL
8 9 0 1 4RESOLUTION NO. C.M.S.
INTRODUCED BY COUNCILMEMBER TREVA REID
RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING OSCAR JULIUS GRANT in, AND
APPOINTING FEBRUARY 27, 2022 AS OSCAR GRANT DAY IN THE
CITY OF OAKLAND, AND RECOGNIZING HIS MOTHER REVEREND
WANDA R. JOHNSON FOR HER TIRELESS WORK IN THE
COMMUNITY
WHEREAS, Oscar Julius Grant III a 22-year-old African-American man was killed in the early morning hours of New Year's Day 2009 by former BART Police Officer Johannes Mehserle at the Fruitvale Station in Oakland, California; and
WHEREAS, Oscar Julius Grant III was bom tin February 27, 1986 to two proud parents Wanda R. Johnson and Oscar Grant Jr.; and
WHEREAS, His mother Reverend Wanda R. Johnson moved to Hayward California to raise her son, who attended Lea Christian Elementary School, Community Christian School during his middle years, and Mount Eden High School. After experiencing a series of setbacks, he never gave up on his dreams and eventually earned a GED; and
WHEREAS, Oscar Julius Grant III was a member of Palma Ceia Baptist Church, where he participated in many youth activities including the Royal Ambassadors and Sunday School. His personality was warm, and he enjoyed making people around him smile and feel included. He also enjoyed activities such as fishing, basketball, baseball and football; and WHEREAS, Oscar Julius Grant III became a father to his only daughter Tatiana Grant in 2005. Tatiana was the joy of his life who, along with God, were the reasons Oscar began to make positive changes in his life; and
WHEREAS, the movie “Fruitvale Station” depicted the humanity of Oscar Julius Grant III, and reflected that if given the proper love and support, individuals can turn their lives around; and
WHEREAS, with the help of her family and close friends, Reverend Wanda Johnson has kept her son’s legacy alive by creating the Oscar Grant Foundation to provide badly needed resources to at-risk youth; and
WHEREAS, the Oscar Grant Foundation operates several programs for the benefit of at- risk youth in the Oakland area, which include the “OG Bailers” a co-ed and inclusive AAU Basketball Program, “Healing Hurt Hearts”, a mental wellness program for those who are dealing with emotional trauma, the “Oscar Grant Tutorial and Scholarship Program” for socio economically disadvantaged youth who wish to pursue higher education, and “Police Equity Training” to help law enforcement officers better understand inner-city youth and cultural dynamics. Over the past 5 years, the Oscar Grant Foundation has given academic scholarships to Oakland Unified School District students who have attended and have graduated from prestigious four-year institutions, including historically black colleges and universities throughout the country; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED: That Councilmember Treva Reid for the 7th District, on behalf of the Oakland City Council, do hereby recognize February 27,2022, and each year after, as Oscar Grant Day in the City of Oakland; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED: That the Oakland City Council hereby recognizes and honors Reverend Wanda R. Johnson for her tireless work to achieve social justice and equity, and the Oscar Grant Foundation for its programs designed to heal and close the achievement gap for at- risk youth.
FEB 0 X 2022IN COUNCIL, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA,
PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES - FIFE, GALLO, KALB, KAPLAN, REID, TAYLOR,
PRESIDENT FORTUNATO BAS — ^ AND
NOES - 10
ABSENT -
ABSTENTION -
ATTEST:
// ASHA REED
Aleting City Clerk and Clerk of the
Council of the City of Oakland, California
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