Sick moment supporters of progressive Oakland DA taunt parents of murder victims at recall rally - telling them to 'raise their children' who've died

Supporters of progressive Oakland DA Pamela Price have taunted parents of murder victims' at a rally calling for her recall.

The counter protesters chanted 'raise your children' at those demanding a recall of Price in the November election.

Price was elected on a platform of justice reform, but many say her policies are allow violent criminals to get back onto the streets.

The demonstration on June 8 turned ugly when the two sets of activists clashed outside the Alameda Courthouse.

'I'm really upset, I just had a Pamela Price supporter to tell me to "raise my child". I wish I could, I wish he was here so I could raise him,' one mom who lost her son to gun violence told KPIX.

Price opponents recently succeeded in putting her recall back on the ballot. 

They are unhappy with her decision not to pursue special enhancements within sentencing which would make prison terms longer.

The mother of five-year-old Eliyanah Crisostomo, who was struck and killed by a bullet on the freeway, says Price is refusing to consider enhancements against the suspects.

 'These criminals are going to get out and hurt another child,' she said. 'You are gambling with our children's lives.'

But those who support Price say the sentencing should not be based on victims' emotions and that such enhancements are disproportionately used against people of color. 

Price faces a recall effort barely a year into her tenure as the county's first black woman to hold the DA post.

Recall campaigners turned in more than 123,000 petition signatures to the county's Registrar of Voters. 

Among the controversies while in office was the publication of a memo written by Price advocating that  probation be the 'presumptive offer' during plea negotiations.

 It said low-end prison terms should be offered in cases that aren't eligible for probation – although nearly every crime in the California penal code is eligible for probation.

The policy allows for exceptions in 'extraordinary' circumstances, including human trafficking, hate crimes, child or elder abuse, and crimes that cause 'extensive' physical injury.

Price declared: 'This directive reduces reliance on sentencing enhancements and allegations as an effort to bring balance back to sentencing and reduce recidivism'.

The directive became especially controversial as Price refused to confirm she would back sentencing enhancements to three gang members accused of murdering two-year-old Jasper Wu, who was killed by a stray bullet.