Press Releases
Sheriff Clayton, Congresswoman Dingell Host Community Unity Town Hall
Ypsilanti, MI,
July 21, 2016
Responding to the recent tragedies in Baton Rouge, Dallas and St. Paul, Washtenaw County Sheriff Jerry Clayton and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) hosted a community Unity Meeting and Town Hall tonight at Eastern Michigan University to discuss policing and community interactions. The goal was to bring together community members of all walks of life for a discussion about race, poverty and community policing, and how to address the anger, frustration and fear felt by many across the country. “Tonight's meeting was an honest, respectful and at times intense discussion. We talked about how we can start to heal as a country, build trust in our communities, and stop the violence moving forward,” said Dingell. “We need to understand the impact national perceptions have on the vast majority of police officers who want to make our communities safer. But we also have to understand what it means to be Black or Muslim or Native American in this country. We need more open and real conversations about not only race, but the growing unemployment and income disparity impacting all working men and women. I thank Sheriff Clayton and all who helped begin this important conversation. We can move forward toward positive change, but only through tolerance and open discussions like this one.” The discussion was moderated by David Fair of WEMU Radio. In addition to Rep. Dingell and Sheriff Clayton, panelists included Mark Fancher, Staff Attorney for the Racial Justice Project of the ACLU of Michigan; Myles McGuire, an organizer with Black Lives Matter; and Washtenaw County Prosecutor Brian Mackie. Attendees included students, law enforcement officers, elected officials, Black Lives Matter organizers and faith and community leaders. The first part of the event focused on unity and remembering those who have been lost. The second part of the event, the Town Hall, provided a respectful venue for all members of the community to be heard, ask questions and raise concerns, and discuss how we can work together to stop the violence going forward. |