Oakland community holds anti-violence march and rally

Carol Ferguson Jones lead a prayer circle at the intersection of 62nd and Market Streets in Oakland where her son Patrick Scott Jr. was shot and killed in February. 

It was 11 a.m. and Patrick walked to the bus stop to catch a ride to his grandmother’s house. Carol, who was still at home, heard the gunshots. “I jumped out of my car. I ran. I ran to get my baby.”

Loved ones organized a march and rally to keep Patrick’s story alive and put pressure on police to find his killer. Carol posted signs around the neighborhood and went door to door with flyers hoping to gather any useful information.

“My son should be here burying me not me burying my son,” she said. “My son didn't harm anybody. He was a gentle giant."

“I guarantee you someone knows who killed him,” said a man who goes by the name Sonny. Sonny says a big problem is the “no snitch” culture in the neighborhood. He says people are worried about a retaliation. “We need to start getting rid of that thing, 'to be a snitch' and start being honest."

The group marched to Morning Star Baptist Church where they planted a tree in Patrick's memory. Mayor Libby Schaaf was there. She says there’s a large reward for information that leads to an arrest. Tipsters can contact police anonymously. “In order to change things we need to speak out,” said Mayor Schaaf. “We need to take risks and talk about what we want for this community."