SDARJ holds virtual conference on police reform
DELAWARE – The Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice hosted a virtual conference Tuesday night to discuss police reform in Delaware. “Our goal in the organization always is to give people as many facts as possible so that they understand what is it that black people – why do black people respond differently to police than white people?” said chair of SDARJ Charlotte King.
Former law enforcement officers discussed police tactics and mass incarceration. “My motivation is I’m going to do it. I don’t want to just sit around and talk about the problem. I want to get inside,” said former FBI agent Frank Burton.
King says that change can’t happen without discussion. “One of the problems that we have with anything in this country is we drop the subject – and we think the subject shouldn’t be dropped,” said King.
The Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice says that just one step towards racial equality is education. “Most of the current writers have said that you’ve got to change the public narrative. Most racists were taught to be racists. They didn’t start racist,” said King.
King says that the conference is one of those educational tools – and real change can’t be made until people learn to navigate their differences. “You need to reach out to all of our communities – both black and white – because my goal is that black people and white people learn to talk to each other,” said King.
Burton says police officers should be ready to serve all kinds of people before they wear a badge. “Make sure that you have the ability to not be racially biased, that you have the ability to work with everybody, and that you treat everybody fairly,” said Burton.
Head of the Delaware department of safety and homeland security Nathaniel McQueen says as a former state trooper, he sees room for change. But he says it has to start with better police training. “There’s a sense of urgency to get something right. Not only that, but they understand the performance necessary,” said McQueen.
King tells 47ABC that while calls for law enforcement reform are happening, citizens must also do their part. “Speak up and speak out. One of the things that comes out of our small group dialogs is learn to speak up,” said King.
The SDARJ says that working toward a more equal future for everyone starts from dialogues like the one had on Tuesday night. “There’s a bigger picture than you know about. There’s a bigger story and it’s okay to tell that story,” said King.
Charlotte King says that the SDARJ will continue to hold meetings like the one Tuesday. Meanwhile – King tells 47ABC that she’s happy to see local communities stepping up to support the movement for racial equality. She says that both individuals and businesses have reached out to see how they can help.
