Jennifer Angel, 48, founded Angel Cakes bakery in Oakland in 2008. Prior to that, she was a publisher of what she described as 'radical, progressive' magazines and a publicist for authors.
On Monday, Angel was leaving her car in front of a bank in uptown Oakland when two robbers smashed her car window and ran off with her belongings, her fiance Ocean Mottley said.
She then went after the robbers' getaway car, catching up with it but getting trapped in its door and being dragged over 50 feet. Her head was crushed on the sidewalk and the car drove away.
By Thursday, her family had confirmed her death after spending days in a coma at a local hospital.
While local authorities investigate her death as a homicide, the family has requested that her brutal killers not be sent to jail.
In a statement on a GoFundMe that has raised over $130,000 as of Saturday, those close to her said they would pursue 'alternatives' to prison for the criminals.
'As a long-time social movement activist and anarchist, Jen did not believe in state violence, carceral punishment, or incarceration as an effective or just solution to social violence and inequity,' they wrote.
They added: 'We know Jen would not want to continue the cycle of harm by bringing state-sanctioned violence to those involved in her death or to other members of Oakland's rich community.'
In fact, she once bragged on Facebook that she had taught her employees to do what she does and 'never call the cops.'
Emily Harris, a close friend of Angel and an 'anti-prison director,' told the San Francisco Chronicle that the statement fits with her radical liberal principles.
'I think Jen would affirm that of course that's what people have been trained to believe is the answer, to lock people up,' Harris said. 'But we know that if the people who cause her harm are sent to jail, all we're doing is perpetuating more harm.'
Her bake shop's website even included a statement of political beliefs.
'[Angel] believes that Black Lives Matter and that every person has the right to choose their own gender identity and gender expression,' the store's 'About Us' section proclaims.
'As a shop we strive to reduce waste through limiting use of plastics and choosing products that are gentle on the environment. We do our best to be a good neighbor and community member through donating to and providing desserts for various social justice efforts, particularly in the areas of environmental justice, housing, and criminal justice reform.'
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On Monday, Angel was leaving her car in front of a bank in uptown Oakland when two robbers smashed her car window and ran off with her belongings, her fiance Ocean Mottley said.
She then went after the robbers' getaway car, catching up with it but getting trapped in its door and being dragged over 50 feet. Her head was crushed on the sidewalk and the car drove away.
By Thursday, her family had confirmed her death after spending days in a coma at a local hospital.
While local authorities investigate her death as a homicide, the family has requested that her brutal killers not be sent to jail.
In a statement on a GoFundMe that has raised over $130,000 as of Saturday, those close to her said they would pursue 'alternatives' to prison for the criminals.
'As a long-time social movement activist and anarchist, Jen did not believe in state violence, carceral punishment, or incarceration as an effective or just solution to social violence and inequity,' they wrote.
They added: 'We know Jen would not want to continue the cycle of harm by bringing state-sanctioned violence to those involved in her death or to other members of Oakland's rich community.'
In fact, she once bragged on Facebook that she had taught her employees to do what she does and 'never call the cops.'
Emily Harris, a close friend of Angel and an 'anti-prison director,' told the San Francisco Chronicle that the statement fits with her radical liberal principles.
'I think Jen would affirm that of course that's what people have been trained to believe is the answer, to lock people up,' Harris said. 'But we know that if the people who cause her harm are sent to jail, all we're doing is perpetuating more harm.'
Her bake shop's website even included a statement of political beliefs.
'[Angel] believes that Black Lives Matter and that every person has the right to choose their own gender identity and gender expression,' the store's 'About Us' section proclaims.
'As a shop we strive to reduce waste through limiting use of plastics and choosing products that are gentle on the environment. We do our best to be a good neighbor and community member through donating to and providing desserts for various social justice efforts, particularly in the areas of environmental justice, housing, and criminal justice reform.'
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