Uncovering Brutality, Cover-Up and Corruption in Oakland

The killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and the mass protests that followed opened many Americans’ eyes to cases of police brutality and misconduct. But two decades earlier, a civil rights lawsuit against Oakland police brought some of the same issues into focus. The suit alleged that a band of rogue veteran police officers known as "The Riders" beat, kidnapped and planted drugs on Oakland residents. A 2003 settlement led to federal monitoring of the Oakland Police Department, which continues to this day. In their new book The Riders Come Out at Night, journalists Ali Winston and Darwin BondGraham explore the history of policing in Oakland, the fallout from the trial, and why some promised reforms have failed. Join us to hear about their reporting and what it reveals about policing in the Bay Area and the United States. Winston photo courtesy the speaker; BondGraham photo by Pete Rosos. January 25, 2023 Speakers Ali Winston Independent Reporter; Co-author, The Riders Come Out at Night Darwin BondGraham Reporter; Co-author, The Riders Come Out at Night Otis R. Taylor Jr Managing Editor, KQED News The Commonwealth Club of California is the nation&oldest and largest public affairs forum 📣, bringing together its 20,000 members for more than 500 annual events on topics ranging across politics, culture, society and the economy. Founded in 1903 in San Francisco California 🌉, The Commonwealth Club has played host to a diverse and distinctive array of speakers...