Aug. 13, 2012: Biblioteca Popular Victor Martinez

August 13 2012, a group of activists began to occupy the vacant building that previously housed the Miller Avenue Library Branch and Emiliano Zapata Street Academy High School in East Oakland, transforming the space into the Biblioteca Popular Victor Martinez.

Organizers, many connected to Occupy Oakland, cleaned the space, constructed a people’s library, and began to build a community garden in the building’s yard. They named the library after poet and teacher, Victor Martinez, who passed away in 2011.

Immediately, police raided the library and evicted the organizers from the building. People returned to construct new shelves for the library outside and continue constructing the garden. Cops constantly surveilled the space and harassed people involved in the project.

Despite constant harassment by police and attempts by city officials to destroy the space, organizers continued to occupy, host events, and maintain the library and community garden for nearly half a decade.