Oakland History Librarian Sees Social Injustice at Root of Oakland Unrest

"It's an accident of geography that the riots took
place here and that the focus is now on Oakland," said
Steven Lavoie, longtime city observer and librarian at
the Oakland History Room at the main library. "The
problems between law enforcement and minority
communities are not unique to Oakland. But because of
our large minority population, these issues come to a
head here.

"Oakland," he said, "is the venue for much larger
social problems. And I don't think the people of the
privileged class, of which I'm probably a member,
understand the impact of injustice in this community."

Oakland History Room.