I was present (as a guest) at US Citizenship Naturalization Oath Ceremenony in Oakland on March 17, held in Paramount Theatre in Oakland.

I was appalled when the official Master of ceremony made a negative comment about police in general when talking to newly sworn citizens. While explaining the process of applying for US passport and the need to submit the US citizenship certificate together with the application (which could make some people anxious because they won't have their greencard any more while waiting for the passport), he said: " If some nasty policeman stops you, you can tell him proudly "I am a US citizen now".

I felt very embarassed that a US official (a white male, by the way) would characterize a police officer as a "nasty", which creates a bad stigma and negative perception of police officers by newly made US citizens.

At the same meeting the chief editor of Oakland Tribune ( black male) who was a guest speaker at the ceremony commented negatively on US flag and said that prior to Barack Obama being elected president he couldn't "look at the flag" or something along those lines.

I am appalled that such comments were done by official people at the official ceremony where a thousand immigrants were naturalized.

And by irony Oakland's shooting of 4 police officers happens the same week.

The ceremony was videorecorded (if anyone wants the proof)