Suspect charged in hit-and-run killing of sociology professor Michael Buroway | Crime and Safety

A man has been charged with hit-and-run and vehicular manslaughter in the killing of UC Berkeley sociology professor emeritus Michael Burawoy.

Burawoy, 77, was struck by a car while walking in a marked crosswalk near his home in Oakland on Feb. 3 around 7:15 p.m.

Police officers arrested suspect Kermith Miller two days after the crash, and he was later released from custody during the investigation. Police officers have also tracked down the car they believe struck Burawoy.

Miller has been charged with a felony count for leaving the scene of the accident, as well as a misdemeanor count of vehicular manslaughter, according to court records. His initial court hearing is scheduled for Dec. 19.

Burawoy joined UC Berkeley’s sociology department as an assistant professor in 1976. Over the course of his 47-year-long career, he published 12 books and more than 120 essays, papers and book chapters, according to an “In Memoriam” piece published by the campus sociology department.

The department described Burawoy as “a pillar of our community for decades, an intellectual giant, a dedicated mentor and educator, and a dear friend” who played “a central role in defining who we are as an intellectual and human community.”

Throughout his career, Burawoy advocated for “public sociology,” calling for sociologists to go beyond their intellectual work to serve communities and the world.Passionate about labor study and advocacy, Burawoy brought students out to campus protests. He also regularly participated in and spoke at these protests. He advocated for faculty interests and improving campus labor conditions.

Burawoy served in numerous leadership positions on and off campus, such as being a campus sociology department Chair, co-Chair and secretary of the Berkeley Faculty Association, president of the American Sociological Association and president of the International Sociological Association.

Upon his retirement in 2023, Burawoy was endowed with the Berkeley Citation, one of campus’s top honors. The Berkeley Citation recognizes “distinguished individuals or organizations … whose contributions to UC Berkeley go beyond the call of duty and whose achievements exceed the standard of excellence in their fields.”