Fiscal Note
No Appropriation Required
Title
Recognizing community leaders and organizations for their contributions and support of our city in the wake of an officer involved shooting
Body
WHEREAS, a group of Madison's individuals and leaders of various organizations and the faith community united in the wake of the tragic shooting death of Tony Robinson, a bi-racial teenager, by a white Madison police officer; and
WHEREAS, while our community leaders immediately focused on providing support while the community awaited the District Attorney's determination in whether he would be filing criminal charges against the police officer, the groups have a collective, wider goal of addressing long-standing disparities in educational achievement, arrests and incarceration, fair and affordable housing, access to "Living Wage" employment, affordable healthcare, youth mentoring and the persistent lack of economic opportunities affecting our communities of color; and
WHEREAS, the community leaders' concern for our young people resulted in the development of an educational public service announcement directed at parents, regarding the current and future impact an arrest could have on their child, should they involve themselves in civil disobedience or violent protest that could result in an arrest; and
WHEREAS, the community leaders collaborated with the UW Black and Latino/a Law Student Association to produce an educational video on understanding police use of force; and
WHEREAS, the community leaders provided more than 100 trained community "Protest Observers" with the goal of keeping the peace during the protests, which were organized to exercise constitutional rights in response to the District Attorney's decision; and
WHEREAS, the work of the community leaders has provided, unprecedented, invaluable, and welcomed support for the use of peaceful methods in the process of voicing dissent and protesting for change;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mayor and the Common Council of the City of Madison commend community leaders from the following organizations:
Black Leadership Council
African American Council of Churches
NAACP/United Way Law Enforcement and communities of color collaboration
Urban League of Greater Madison
Centro Hispano of Dane County
Literacy Network
Mothers United
UW Black and Latino Law Student Association
Davis Group
And profoundly appreciate the leadership they have provided, and eagerly look forward to working with them to systemically address the disparities within our City and make Madison a more equitable place for all residents to live, work, and play.