I never really liked the police. I felt like they were against young people and that they abused their power. I wanted people to know how youth are treated by police in the city where I live, Oakland, California, so I decided to write about my experiences in a radio commentary.
Police treat my neighborhood in West Oakland like they’re on a playground, toying with young men like kids. I remember a time when my friend and I were minding our own business, just talking and chilling in front of my house. Two cops pulled up and started asking us why we were standing outside, if we were on probation, or if we had tattoos. Imagine going outside to read a book on your porch, and two cops pull up to question you. That’s what happened to us.
The commentary went farther than I expected — all the way to Chris Magnus, the chief of police in Richmond, …