Renowned UC Berkeley Sociologist Michael Burawoy Killed in Oakland Hit-and-Run

The retired professor, celebrated for his global impact on sociology, was struck in a crosswalk near Lake Merritt on Monday evening; the driver remains unidentified.

• Michael Burawoy, 77, a professor emeritus of sociology at UC Berkeley, was fatally struck by a vehicle while crossing a marked crosswalk in Oakland on Monday night.
• The driver fled the scene, and Oakland police are seeking information from the public to identify the perpetrator; it is unclear if drugs or alcohol were involved.
• Burawoy was a prominent figure in sociology, serving as president of both the American Sociological Association and the International Sociological Association during his career.
• Colleagues and students remember him as a transformative educator and advocate, with extensive research spanning labor studies in Zambia, Hungary, Russia, and the U.S.
• His death highlights ongoing concerns about pedestrian safety in the Bay Area, where traffic-related fatalities, including hit-and-runs, have been on the rise in recent years.

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