Good evening, my name is Al Dixon, I am a co-chair of the Anti-Racism Task Force. We are committed to anti-racism and racial healing work because our history impacts our present and we continue to see systemic racism threaded within the practices and policies of our country, our local communities, and our institutions. We believe we must work together to dismantle systemic racism and tonight we seek partnership with our public officials and law enforcement to extend this work with us.
My name is Emily Hazel, I am the other co-chair of the Anti-Racism Task Force. We are using the term systemic racism, meaning when racism is embedded in the very institutions and organizations of society in such ways, that laws, rules and procedures have been influenced by and perpetuate racism. Systemic Racism is often experienced by People of Color in ways that are invisible to those who are benefiting from White privilege.
Hi my name is Wendy Fields. We find too many examples of this in our nation, and locally as well, where people of color
disproportionately experience:
- Twice the rate of infant mortality nationally, and nearly 4 times the rate in Kalamazoo
- Lower rates of employment, compared to employment rates for whites
- Higher rates of arrests, incarceration and complaints of excessive use of force
- Increased rates of violence due to hate crimes
- Lower wages than our white counterparts for the same work
- Less access to educational, financial, housing, and healthcare resources
My name is Mike Wood. We are thankful for our Elected Officials, Candidates and Law Enforcement Officials who are participating today to build this partnership with us and committing to take actions to work toward racial justice and the Beloved Community. We recognize and honor the anti-racism work that has already been set in motion by organizations, institutions, and public leaders represented here. We support that work and seek to expand it through the asks requested tonight, in partnership with our community. We believe these asks will benefit our community, law enforcement, and public officials by: enabling deeper communication and a shared understanding of systemic racism; promoting greater trust, improving collaboration, and developing antiracist policies, practices, and relationships.
Public Officials – Asks
My name is Deacon Karen McDonald. Elected officials and candidates, when your name or office you are representing is called, please unmute your mic to answer Yes to this question. You will have 30 seconds or less to respond specifically to these asks.
County Commissioners and Candidates
- To deepen your impact of being a Public Official working with an Anti-Racist lens, do you commit to attend a Public Official Workshop that focuses on Anti- Racism, Equity, Empowerment & Accountability, hosted by ISAAC?
and - Do you commit to support in word and action the current County Commission proclamation that Racism is a Public Health Crisis and communicate your plan for doing so to the community?
Those who responded yes:
- Tracy Hall – County Commission Chair/ District 3 representative
- Tami Rey – Candidate/ District 1
- Andrew Smith – Candidate/ District 4
- Veronica McKissack – Candidate/ District 5
- Valarie Cunningham – Candidate/ District 5
- Jen Aniano – County Commissioner/ District 6
- Anthony Bates – Candidate/ District 7
- Keisha Dickason – Candidate/ District 9
- Fran Bruder Melgar – Candidate/ District 11
- Lisa Brayton – Candidate/ District 11
City Commissioners
- In order to address systemic racism in our City do you commit to stand in your role of City Commissioner by considering community input and holding systems accountable?
and - To deepen your impact of being a Public Official working with an Anti-Racist lens, do you commit to attend a Public Official Workshop that focuses on Anti- Racism, Equity, Empowerment & Accountability, hosted by ISAAC?
Those who responded, yes:
- Mayor David Anderson
- Vice Mayor Patrese Griffin
- Commissioner Jack Urban
- Commissioner Eric Cunningham
- Commissioner Jeanne Hess
- Commissioner Chris Praedel
Candidates for State Representative, 60th and 61st District, and US Congress, 6th District
- To deepen your impact of being a Public Official working with an Anti-Racist lens, do you commit to attend a Public Official Workshop that focuses on Anti- Racism, Equity, Empowerment & Accountability, hosted by ISAAC?
Those who responded yes:
- The Representative for Congressman Upton, Nivia Marquis, is unable to attend due to a family emergency today and sends the following words: Congressman Upton supports and plans to attend this important workshop on anti-racism, equity, empowerment and accountability.
- Representative Jon Hoadley Candidate/ Representative to US Congress, 6th District
- Commissioner Christine Morse Candidate/State Representative, 61st District
- Commissioner Julie Rogers Candidate/State Representative, 60th District
- Commissioner Stephanie Moore Candidate/State Representative, 60th District
- Gary Mitchell Candidate/State Representative, 60th District
County Clerk Candidates
- To deepen your impact of being a Public Official working with an Anti-Racist lens, do you commit to attend a Public Official Workshop that focuses on Anti- Racism, Equity, Empowerment & Accountability, hosted by ISAAC?
and - As part of the Kalamazoo County Apportionment Commission, do you commit to work to end local gerrymandering, that is, to ensure fair district lines, and to work to end systemic voter suppression in Kalamazoo?
Candidates who responded yes:
- Commissioner Meredith Place,
- Mona Lisa Watson
- Doreen Gardner
County Treasurer Candidates
- To deepen your impact of being a Public Official working with an Anti-Racist lens, do you commit to attend a Public Official Workshop that focuses on Anti- Racism, Equity, Empowerment & Accountability, hosted by ISAAC?
and - As part of the Kalamazoo County Apportionment Commission, do you commit to work to end local gerrymandering, that is, to ensure fair district lines, and to work to end systemic voter suppression in Kalamazoo?
Those who responded yes:
- County Treasurer Mary Balkema
- Thomas Whitener, Candidate
Criminal Justice System Asks
My name is Rev. Joslyn Mason. Law Enforcement, Officials of the Judicial System, Leaders, and candidates, when your name or the office you are representing is called, please unmute your mic to answer Yes to this question. You will have 30 seconds or less to respond specifically to these asks.
Prosecutor and Kalamazoo Defenders
- Do you commit to work with the Anti-Racism Task Force, October 2020-October 2021 to Build a Culture of Trust & Legitimacy between our Law Enforcement (LE)/Criminal Justice and our community, as exemplified in Pillar 1 of The President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing? This would include collaborating on the following:
● Share what is already being done in your department/agency around trust, transparency, anti-racism education and training.
● Educational Components including the History of Law and Racism Workshop and a follow up debriefing session.
● Acknowledgement of Harm to facilitate healing and trust.
● Participate in collective visioning and movement sessions with LE/Criminal Justice and community/neighborhood groups, for relationship building through local anti-racism and healing work together.
and - Do you commit to attending a Cultural Competency Workshop focused on working with Immigrant Community Members, facilitated by El Concilio?
and - Kalamazoo Defenders: Do you commit to give a workshop/presentation about your work for our Indigent community members?
- Prosecutor: As part of the Kalamazoo County Apportionment Commission, do you commit to work to end local gerrymandering, that is, to ensure fair district lines, and to work to end systemic voter suppression in Kalamazoo?
Officials who responded yes:
- Prosecutor Jeff Getting
- Kalamazoo Defenders’ Director Josh Hilgart.
Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety and the City of Kalamazoo
- Do you commit to work with the Anti-Racism Task Force, October 2020-October 2021 to Build a Culture of Trust & Legitimacy between our Law Enforcement (LE)/Criminal Justice and our community, as exemplified in Pillar 1 of The President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing? This would include collaborating on the following:
● Share what is already being done in your department/agency around trust, transparency, anti-racism education and training.
● Educational Components including the History of Law and Racism Workshop and a follow up debriefing session.
● Acknowledgement of Harm to facilitate healing and trust.
● Participate in collective visioning and movement sessions with LE/Criminal Justice and community/neighborhood groups, for relationship building through local anti-racism and healing work together.
And - Do you commit to attending a Cultural Competency Workshop focused on working with Immigrant Community Members, facilitated by El Concilio?
And - Do you commit to maintain local policies that protect and respect the rights of our Immigrant and Undocumented Community Members and support existing City and County Resolutions that give you the right to NOT collaborate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)?
Officials who responded yes:
- Deputy City Manager Laura Lam
- Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Chief Vernon Coakley.
- Sheriff Richard Fuller
- Candidate Shannon Bagley
Regretfully Sheriff Fuller could not attend our meeting tonight due to the untimely death of his mother. We send our prayers to him and his family.
- Do you commit to work with the Anti-Racism Task Force, October 2020-October 2021 to Build a Culture of Trust & Legitimacy between our Law Enforcement (LE)/Criminal Justice and our community, as exemplified in Pillar 1 of The President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing? This would include collaborating on the following:
● Share what is already being done in your department/agency around trust,
transparency, anti-racism education and training.
● Educational Components including the History of Law and Racism Workshop and a
follow up debriefing session.
● Acknowledgement of Harm to facilitate healing and trust.
● Participate in collective visioning and movement sessions with LE/Criminal Justice
and community/neighborhood groups, for relationship building through local
anti-racism and healing work together.
and - Do you commit to attending a Cultural Competency Workshop focused on working with Immigrant Community Members, facilitated by El Concilio?
On behalf of the Anti-racism task force we thank you for your commitment and look forward to our ongoing collaboration.