The Riders Come out at Night
Brutality, Corruption, and Cover-up in Oakland
New York, NY : Atria Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc., 2023, ©2023.
Format: Book
Edition: First Atria Books hardcover edition.
Description: 467 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (chiefly color), map ; 24 cm
"No municipality has been under court oversight to reform its police department as long as the city of Oakland. It is, quite simply, the edge case in American law enforcement. The Riders Come Out at Night is the culmination of over twenty-one years of fearless reporting. Ali Winston and Darwin BondGraham shine a light on the jackbooted police culture, lack of political will, and misguided leadership that have conspired to stymie meaningful reform. The authors trace the history of Oakland since its inception through the lens of the city's police department, through the Palmer Raids, McCarthyism, and the Civil Rights struggle, the Black Panthers and crack eras, to Oakland's present-day revival. Readers will be introduced to a group of sadistic cops known as "The Riders," whose disregard for the oath they took to protect and serve is on full, tragic, infuriating display. They will also meet Keith Batt, a wide-eyed rookie cop turned whistleblower, who was unwittingly partnered with the leader of the Riders. Other compelling characters include Jim Chanin and John Burris, two civil rights attorneys determined to see reform through, in spite of all obstacles. And Oakland's deep history of law enforcement corruption, reactionary politics, and social movement organizing is retold through historical figures like Black Panther Huey Newton, drug kingpin Felix Mitchell, district attorney and future Supreme Court Justice Earl Warren, and Mayor Jerry Brown. The Riders Come Out at Night is the story of one city and its police department, but it's also the story of American policing--and where it's headed" -- Publisher's description.
Contents:
Dogwatch, ghost town -- Nobody will listen to Jerry Amaro -- "Real gangster gunslingers" -- One hundred nineteen black men v. the City of Oakland -- The origins of west coast cop culture -- Nothing will get done until Oakland burns to the ground -- Small wars -- Deadly consequences -- "I feel I was back in the Jim Crow days" -- Whiplash -- Turmoil and tear gas -- The least popular man in the OPD -- "Tell me you were an adult" -- Backsliding.
Subjects:
Police brutality -- California -- Oakland.
Police corruption -- California -- Oakland.
Police misconduct -- California -- Oakland.
Criminal justice, Administration of -- California -- Oakland.
African Americans -- Violence against -- California -- Oakland.
Women -- Violence against -- California -- Oakland.
Police brutality -- California -- Oakland.
Police corruption -- California -- Oakland.
Police misconduct -- California -- Oakland.
Criminal justice, Administration of -- California -- Oakland.
African Americans -- Violence against -- California -- Oakland.
Women -- Violence against -- California -- Oakland.
ISBN:
9781982168599
Availability | |||
---|---|---|---|
Call Number | Location | Shelf Location | Status |
SOCIAL SCI Crime Enforcement Win | Main (Downtown) | Nonfiction | Out (Due: 5/13/2024) |
Includes bibliographical references (pages [391]-445) and index (pages [449]-467).