POLITICS
TO THE CITIZENS OF COLUMBUS - A MESSAGE FROM COUNCIL PRESIDENT SHANNON G. HARDIN
(L - R) Shannon G. Hardin, President Columbus City Council; Kevin Boyce, County Commissioner; Joyce Beatty, Congresswoman
By Council President Shannon G. Hardin
story is only possible because of protests past. The beatings, dogs, and hoses used through the South during Dr. King’s marches With dried pepper spray tears on and the Stonewall Riots. We must stand my shirt, I am shaken, saddened, against oppression. and angry. Despite real reasons for anger, I do not I’m angry that racist violence against excuse the few who walk amongst the black people seems to change its form protestors and choose to be destructive. but never ends. I’m shaken at the feeling Many of these folks come from outside of of powerlessness experienced by so many Columbus with their own agendas and are when they see visceral racism. And when not seeking constructive change. These are folks try to grasp power and take to the not the protestors I know and am happy to streets they face hundreds of police officers work with. maintaining order while reinforcing the violence inherent in police powers. I’m I also want to acknowledge that our police saddened that for many watching from the officers are tired. Many have been out for comfort of their homes, the violence of a few days and days, sporting bruises from where on the fringe will give yet one more excuse they were hit with rocks and frozen water to do nothing to challenge the status quo of bottles. Protestors are bruised from wooden racism in America. bullets and more. Both sides need time to rest and heal. I will never forget the burning blindness of indiscriminate pepper spray as I stood with We must use this civil unrest to accelerate Congresswoman Joyce Beatty and County progress on real, specific reforms to fight Commissioner Kevin Boyce trying to keep systematic racism. the crowd on the sidewalks. I’m not a natural protestor. I like to sit around a table to hash On Monday, Columbus will pass a resolution out policies and plans. But I felt I needed declaring racism a public health crisis. to show up as a black man because George Franklin County has already lead the way Floyd should be alive. Breonna Taylor on this cause, Mayor Ginther concurs, and should be alive. Ahmaud Arbery should we are all united in calling on other levels of be alive. Tyre King should be alive. regional and state government to join hands with us in honestly addressing the negative Our residents in Columbus and citizens impacts of racism. across the nation are speaking out in a thousand ways to say we need immediate Today I also call on local leaders to help action. The people are speaking. I hear them. make policing reforms real this year. We Now we must get to a shared table and use must make concrete moves on the 80 this powerful voice to make change real. We recommendations from the Community cannot do that if the table is on fire. Safety Advisory Commission ranging from recruitment, training, diversity and inclusion, As a black, gay City Council President of community engagement, and independent America’s 14th largest city, I know my investigations.
The Columbus & Dayton African American • June 2020
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Columbus needs to establish independent investigations into police use of force, including negotiating a Civilian Review Commission into the next police contract. The Fraternal Order of Police has long opposed such a move, and I call on them to join us at the table to get this done. Having experienced it first hand, we need to change the use of crowd disbursal techniques and stop spraying dangerous gases into peaceful crowds. The negative impacts far outweigh the temporary control it gives officers. We must diversify our safety divisions, and train cultural competency for the dozens of diverse international communities that call Columbus home. Our Police Chief is working for internal reforms. I want him and every officer to know that we want you to succeed. But we will not accept the status quo or those who cover up for egregious past acts of violence on duty. Fighting racism is imperative in every sector and part of our society, not just policing. Through race-conscious policymaking, we’ve got to unwind the generations of racist policies in housing, public health, education, and elsewhere. On corporate boards and in the philanthropic sector we need to see clear, measured strategies to combat racial disparities. I do truly believe that things can get better. As a Christian, I’ve been thinking a lot about grace over the past couple of days. It’s something we need to extend to one another now more than ever. And with that renewed goodwill towards one another, we can move forward with resolve and create a more just Columbus.
The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015
