Dublin Police Investigate After Local Man Singles Out Teen Online

Pleasanton CA

11 November, 2020

6:56 PM

Description

DUBLIN, CA — Dublin police have opened an investigation after a local man posted a Dublin High School student's photo online and encouraged people to protest a Black Lives Matter event that the teen organizer was participating in. KTVU first reported the news. Denel McMahan, 17, told the station he secured permission from the Dublin City Council to allow Tri-Valley for Black Lives demonstrators to install 40 pro-Black Lives Matter signs at Dublin's Civic Center Plaza. He said he became unnerved after seeing his photo posted online by Mike Grant, a Dublin resident and online gun dealer. Grant, who had not responded to a Patch request for comment as of this writing, identified McMahan as a Black Lives Matter organizer, and called on groups such as the Three Percenters and Oath Keepers — two right-wing militant groups — to protest at the event, "greet them with a little smile" and "bring your vests and helmets in case these BLM people start trouble," he wrote. "This is a 911," he wrote, later adding: "Remember [Black Lives Matter] is known as a "left wing" anti government group. Take Dublin Back!!" Grant told KTVU that he did not intend to bring harm to the young man, but opposed signs supporting any movement on government property. He said he subsequently called on like-minded individuals to skip the event. Dublin Police Capt. Nate Schmidt said the department reviewed the post with McMahan and his mother Tuesday, and determined that the post did not meet the standard of a crime. Still, police will continue to monitor the situation and keep an eye out for any additional related posts that could constitute a crime or indicate that opposition groups intend to show up at the event. So far, police have not seen any other posts indicating protesters plan to attend. Police will be present at the event Sunday and have additional staff on hand, Schmidt said. U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), who was raised in Dublin, called Grant's actions disgusting on his Facebook page. "These aren't patriots, they're bullies bent on intimidation and division, and they should be ashamed of themselves," he wrote. "Fortunately, they in no way represent the generous and inclusive people of Dublin." It's disgusting that so-called "adults" would organize to come ready for a fight with a local teenager exercising his...Posted by Congressman Eric Swalwell on Wednesday, November 11, 2020 Dublin Unified School District Superintendent Daniel R. Moirao condemned Grant's actions in a letter sent Monday to the school community and called on others to "rediscover respectful discourse" instead of "sit[ting] behind a keyboard and express[ing] frustration." He encouraged people to think twice before lashing out and consider the impact of words on a community. "Regardless of anyone's position on temporary art installations, or the BLM movement, there is absolutely no justifiable reason to post a photo of a child in our community, or any community, in an effort to stir up division and further a cause. This is wrong. I'm simply aghast that someone would do such a thing, and in the process, potentially put one of our children in danger. In this case, the Dublin Police Department is involved and will ensure our child's safety," he wrote. The Black Lives Matter display was approved by the council Nov. 3 and is considered a temporary public art installation. It will be curated by Mayor David Haubert. People wishing to participate in the "Sign Garden for Justice" may email [email protected] to submit signs by Thursday, according to a Facebook event page. The display will be erected 2 p.m. Nov. 15. Read more at KTVU. Correction: An earlier version of this report contained a typo in a quote from Dublin Unified School District Superintendent Daniel R. Moirao.