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@FairfaxNAACP hosted a townhall last night. A couple of thoughts below as well as an update for those that may have watched.
I was a bit surprised at the lack of urgency and frankly the seeming inability to answer some basic questions from our Board of Supervisors.
@FairfaxNAACP hosted a townhall last night. A couple of thoughts below as well as an update for those that may have watched.
I was a bit surprised at the lack of urgency and frankly the seeming inability to answer some basic questions from our Board of Supervisors.
Here’s what we know: in a county where Black people make up a little bit less than 10 percent of the population, we make up nearly 50 percent of the use of force. That’s it. That alone should have every Board of Supervisor demanding answers and reform. It seemed not to register.
Despite knowing about this disproportionate use of force and it being a static trend for the last five years, the Board often cited the need for more data.
The thing is the county has not released data it promised two years ago. We were told by the chief of police about how they had to fire a vendor and how things are still entered manually. I’m sorry but how the board would allow this type of answer is beyond me.
I am dropping the video at the end of the thread.
In response to our recommendation of removing SROs from schools, one board member cited a drive by shooting at a school that she believed happened 20 years ago and the relationship between one student and one SRO that she knew.
In response to our recommendation of removing SROs from schools, one board member cited a drive by shooting at a school that she believed happened 20 years ago and the relationship between one student and one SRO that she knew.
I hope it’s terrifying to everyone that any elected official is setting policy on anecdotal evidence in the face of a mountain of data to the contrary.
It should be equally disturbing that some elected officials seems to have no recognition that Black people have a very different lived experience than White people when it comes to law enforcement.
But put that aside, here’s the real kicker:
But put that aside, here’s the real kicker:
The drive by shooting didn’t even happen.
There’s much work to be done and the Board of Supervisors have to realize that the disproportionate use of force towards Black people in this county is unacceptable.
What do we do? Well over the next days and weeks, we will have specific calls to action where we let the Board know the importance of this issue.
We should start with Supervisor Penny Gross.
We should start with Supervisor Penny Gross.
Supervisor Gross shared the story above and spent about a total of 7 minutes on the call. If she’s your supervisor, please email her at [email protected] or call her office at 703-256-7717.
Let her know you expect policy to be data driven and to adopt the Fairfax NAACP’s recommendation.
You’ve been looking for ways to get involved for weeks. Take five minutes and call your supervisor.
You’ve been looking for ways to get involved for weeks. Take five minutes and call your supervisor.
Link to the townhall: https://www.facebook.com/fairfaxnaacp/videos/2577008225871376/?vh=e&d=n
