Activists Push to Abolish Wealthy City in California
Over a year ago, Oakland resident Jesse Rosemoore launched a campaign aimed at “abolishing Piedmont,” a small city of just 1.7 square miles known for its affluent status and its own police and school districts.
As part of his campaign, Rosemoore distributed stickers with the message “Cancel Piedmont” and even sold $10 T-shirts that had catchy phrases. He felt there was a pressing need to shine a light on what he viewed as societal issues stemming from the city’s circumstances.
“I thought someone had to raise awareness about this, because what’s going on there reflects broader issues in our society,” he remarked.
Piedmont is often referred to as “Oakland’s Donut Hole” since it is fully surrounded by larger cities. While residents in Piedmont have made efforts to address historical racism, these attempts have, according to some, resulted in more criticism.
Jean Chen Takazawa, the director of diversity, equity, and inclusion for the Piedmont School District, defended their actions, saying, “People tend to have a negative perception of us. We’re actually doing our best here. Please stop the criticism and allow us to do our work.”
Rosemoore, however, sees things differently. “It’s absurd that a place like Piedmont exists,” he insisted, reiterating the need to emphasize the messages his campaign conveys about societal inequalities.
The statistics are striking: only about 1% of Piedmont’s residents identify as Black, while that figure jumps to 20% in Oakland.
“In the past, we used to associate racism predominantly within the same communities,” noted Steven Menedian, deputy director of the DEI Center at the University of California, Berkeley. “Now, racism is often more pronounced between different cities.”
Residents of Piedmont have expressed feeling unfairly targeted as local officials attempt to combat inequality through hiring DEI specialists and promoting low-income housing projects. Critics argue these efforts lack genuine substance and are merely performative.
Rosemoore recognized the significant challenge of merging Piedmont and Oakland, as it would necessitate the approval of Piedmont’s residents, a notion he believes would not be well-received. “Suggesting that would probably get me into serious trouble,” he joked.
Interestingly, support for Rosemoore’s campaign has been mixed. An enthusiastic young jogger expressed backing, while an older Black woman cautioned him about the potential backlash. “Don’t feel discouraged if you face opposition,” she advised. “People have a lot of strong emotions tied to their community.”
Another supporter, a young woman wearing a “Free Palestine” hat, also showed her contrasting views in support of Piedmont, noting the struggles she’s faced in her own neighborhood. “Honestly, as a Latina woman from a tough area, it’s a difficult situation. I hope for better,” she added, mentioning the possibility of new apartments being constructed.
