Rasheed Shabazz

5 days ago | oaklandvoices.us | Ayah Ali-Ahmad |Rasheed Shabazz

The Oakland City Council’s recent decision to freeze a city arts position in the next budget cycle has prompted criticism from advocates who say it threatens already limited cultural arts funding. At a June 11 meeting, a group of councilmembers proposed amendments to the then-Interim Mayor Kevin Jenkin’s draft 2025-2027 budget that eliminated funding for the Cultural Affairs Manager role within the Economic and Workforce Development Department.

3 weeks ago | oaklandvoices.us | Cat Brooks |Rasheed Shabazz

From Eric Garner to George Floyd to Tyre Nichols, Black people in this country have had our breath, our bodies, and our futures stolen by American law enforcement. Repeatedly. On camera. In broad daylight. With impunity. Five years ago, the world watched George Floyd publicly lynched by a Minneapolis police officer who knelt on his neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds. The dam broke.

Jan 3, 2025 | oaklandvoices.us | Rasheed Shabazz

Friends, family, and supporters gathered on News Year’s Day at Oakland’s Fruitvale Station to remember the life and legacy of Oscar Grant 16th years after his murder by a BART police officer. “Our message is still unity in the community,” Grant’s mother, Wanda Johnson, told Oakland Voices.

Jul 9, 2024 | oaklandvoices.us | Rasheed Shabazz |Oakland Voices

Urban Peace Movement is disheartened by the violence that took place during the Juneteenth gathering in our beloved Oakland. Juneteenth is a day for liberation, celebration and community. We will be holding space for the trauma resulting from the shooting at Lake Merritt has not just on the people directly harmed, but also our wider community members who are impacted. We all deserve to feel safe – whether at work, at school, at home – or at a Juneteenth gathering.

Mar 4, 2024 | oaklandvoices.us | Rasheed Shabazz |Oakland Voices

Good vibes flowed during summer 2023 at Oakland’s fourth annual Lakefest, held June 24 at the Lake Merritt Boathouse. The day festival had amazing performances from Oakland artists Adrian Marcel, Mistah F.A.B. and others. Local DJs such as Mind Motion, Shellheart and Daghe provided musical breaks on the main stage between performances and fashion shows to keep the crowd moving. The first annual Lakefest was in 2018. In 2019 over 15,000 people attended.