Music Professor Arrested at Tenants’ Demonstration
By Otto Pippenger/Staff Writer
City College music department instructor Bob Davis, 68 , better known to many of her students as Ms. Bob, was arrested at a city council meeting in Alameda on Nov. 4 after colliding with the interim city manager.
Davis, an Alameda resident who has taught at City College since 1976, was part of a demonstration of renters and protestors from the Alameda Renters Coalition and Tenants Together who gathered to speak before the Alameda City Council voted on a rent increase moratorium.
Conflict arose when demonstrators were unable to enter the meeting chamber, where seats had been reserved and filled by a group of landlords who arrived earlier. Davis was at the forefront of the crowd attempting entry to the chambers, and can be seen in a video shot by demonstrator Duane Moles being pushed back by interim City Manager Bob Haun, causing both of them to fall backward away from each other.
“I only know what happened from the video- I was astonished. I can literally say I didn’t know what hit me.” Davis said.
Haun moved back into the chamber while Davis returned to the crowd as the single police officer on duty called for backup. Haun reported an injured hip which was later found to be broken, and more officers soon arrived and arrested Davis in the crowd.
The YouTube video shows officers pushing through the crowd and telling Davis she was under arrest, and her asking “Why, why?”
The camera was then obscured by a demonstrator’s back, and seconds later Davis can be seen being wrestled to the ground by an officer, falling face-first and leaving a smear of blood on the ground roughly a square foot in size.
“They took me down- the blood was from a cut on my nose that took four stitches.” Davis said. She also sustained injuries from the handcuffs, which she is worried may affect her ability to teach guitar at CCSF.
Outcome
Davis was booked on suspicion of threatening a public official, resisting arrest, battery of a public official and later of causing great bodily injury.
John Klein, 64, a leader of the Alameda Renters Coalition, was also arrested after allegedly touching or obstructing a passing officer and arrested on suspicion of battery of a police officer and obstruction of a police officer.
Davis’ bail was set at $50,000, with a bond of $3,500 that was paid by her partner Carol Kleinmaier.
“I was shocked by the video. It was horrible. You can hear her screaming in such pain, and saying ‘Don’t hurt me’ but they just kept going after her,” AFT 2121 President Timothy Killikelly said. “It was outrageous and there should be an independent investigation. Seeing someone you know and respect be treated like that is just unbelievable.”
Representatives from AFT 2121 accompanied Davis to the arraignment on Nov. 6 where they learned that no charges would be filed at the time.
“The fact that a teacher is getting involved with the community is proof that our teachers aren’t ivory tower types,” Music Department Chair Madeline Mueller said. “They’re with the people, with our students who are being pushed out of San Francisco, Oakland and Alameda. That’s why Bob is such a good teacher. She cares.”
The City Council unanimously voted to approve the 65-day moratorium on rent increases of eight percent or more, in a meeting with nearly 100 speakers that lasted more than seven hours.
Davis returned to teaching on Monday with her left arm in a sling. Neither the Alameda County District Attorney nor Bob Haun’s office have responded to requests for comments as of press time.
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