Organizers, supporters start final push in effort to recall Alameda County DA Pamela Price
In Alameda County, the ballots have been sent out and mail-in voting begins on Monday. But no race has gotten as much attention as the move to recall District Attorney Pamela Price. On Saturday, recall organizers and the families of crime victims gathered to start the final push to Election Day.
They spoke as one voice, the families of murder victims who accuse Pamela Price's office of denying them justice.
"Recall Price! Recall Price" chanted the group gathered in the office of Bay Area pitchman Sam Singer. And when he's involved, it's usually a voice that is hard to miss. On Saturday, Singer said he was acting as spokesman for the 13 different police unions in Alameda County.
"Each and everyone has unanimously endorsed the recall of Pamela Price," he said. "And we're standing up to the tyrannical District Attorney that we want to see removed from office."
Price was elected less than two years ago, a criminal justice reformer promising to cut the rate of incarceration, particularly of young Black men. But almost immediately, she sparked criticism by people who said her refusal to seek more serious charges was creating a system of "catch and release."
"Fixing the system is one thing, but destroying the system is another," said Brenda Grisham, a principal officer with the recall. "People have to be held accountable and whatever the law says is accountability, it is not the right of one person to come in and change what they feel is 'accountability.' A law is a law. What's right is right. And whatever she ran on. First of all, a lot of these people voted for her and they are now victims of what she stood for. So, that is what we are here for."
Under attack for more than a year, Price has not been shy about standing up for herself. She has often described the attacks against her as being racially motivated.
"That's racism and I'm calling it for what it is," she told a group at a community meeting in 2023. "If you believe the media hype, I went from a well-respected lawyer and businesswoman with 40 years experience in this community, to a bumbling, incompetent idiot who knew nothing about the law and criminal justice system."
But the recall supporters said they believe many who voted for Price knew little about her.
"They voted for her because she was African American," said Grisham. "So, the basis of her getting into office wasn't based on her record. She was a civil rights attorney! It was mainly based on the fact that she is African American...and so am I."
Now the families, even some who voted for Price, said her concern is more for the accused than the victims.
Florence McCrary's son Terrance was one of two people murdered at a party in 2016. A suspect was caught, but she said things changed after Price took office.
"He was arrested and charged for two murders that night where there was gunfire that erupted at a party," McCrary said. "And he was charged with both murders and then they dropped the charges against my child's assailant."
Sherrie Newsone said her son was killed in January of this year.
"The person was caught and released, saying that they didn't have enough evidence," she said. "So, I just feel like now is just time for Pamela to leave."
It may not be fair to label every dropped case as being "soft on crime." But that's the situation Alameda County's district attorney finds herself in. As fears about rising crime increase, in 30 days, the voters will deliver their verdict about whether or not Pamela Price is guilty as charged.