DAVENPORT, IOWA (July 20, 2020) — On August 1, 2020 at 10AM, the Davenport Civil Rights Commission will host a special meeting on Zoom inviting the community to discuss efforts to make the City of Davenport a city of true racial equity.
The Commission would like to discuss local policing practices, police misconduct, and municipal policies and practices that disproportionately impact marginalized groups. Although conversations on policing reform, reallocation of resources, and policies like the Justice in Policing Act are not new, there is more openness and willingness in this moment to consider dramatic and systemic reform. The killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and countless other African-Americans have given unprecedented, worldwide attention on the ways police reform in the United States has failed; we would like to facilitate a conversation to develop actionable and effective police reform.
To address systemic racial disparities in policing, we must first acknowledge the existence of racism in policing, understanding that it is but one manifestation of racism within our community. Though there are conversations on more trainings and task forces, history has shown us that, without stringent accountability measures, those efforts will only preserve the status quo. The Commission recognizes that improvements in police training and policy changes are invaluable tools in aid reformation efforts, but they cannot serve as the totality of police reforms.
The Commission would like to hear the concerns of the communities most affected by police violence to encourage a healthy and informed dialogue about the importance of prioritizing meaningful solutions aimed at harm reduction, truth and reconciliation, and the steps that we as a community can take to make the City of Davenport a more equitable community.
To register to attend the meeting, click here.
If you need an accommodation or have questions about attending this meeting, please contact the Davenport Civil Rights Commission as soon as possible at 563-326-7888 or beth.badillo@davenportiowa.com.
