Stockton Marchers Take to Streets to Remember the life of Alex Mahan

We apologize for the lateness of this report and a lack of activity on this site as of late. Expect more updates to come in the near future. We were also hoping for contributions and reports from this event from various comrades but have yet to receive them. If you were at the march and services for Alex, please contact us with your story of the event or post your reflections in the comments. 

In late July, Alex Mahan, a participant in both Occupy Stockton and Oakland, was killed in a drive by shooting. Close to 100 comrades from both the bay area and the central valley choose to mark his passing with a spirited march through Stockton in August, holding the streets and remembering his life as well as decrying the violence of the police and the inter-community violence in poor and communities of color. Please view the two videos on this post to see footage from the march. While Alex's passing is tragic, the fact that friends, family, and comrades choose to remember him by taking back their streets in both a joyful and confrontational way shows that there are still many who will continue the struggle that Alex was apart.

Alex was involved with not only the revolutionary group TAC, or Tactical Action Committee, but also militant actions in Stockton against the police murder of James Rivera Jr. in 2010. TAC is a current and group from within Occupy Oakland that includes young people, largely of color, from Oakland that was formed out of the strikes, riots, and occupation of Oscar Grant Plaza. The group would go on to organize various actions, including weekly 'Fuck the Police' marches as well as inspire a new generation of Oakland revolutionaries. Alex deserves to be remembered for his involvement in the struggle and his contribution to revolutionary activity in the Central Valley area. The coming together of comrades and community members in the Stockton area to support this comrade, his revolutionary project, as well as call for an end to crime in poor and working class areas, shows not only the level in which everyday people see the need for a massive social transformation of everyday life, but also a deep desire to better the conditions in which they are living in. It also shows a belief that only through their our own actions and relationships can such a change become possible. In this, Alex gives us a final gift, the joy of once again coming together and holding the streets against our enemies and for ourselves.

OCCUPY IN PARADISE!