At a press conference on August 5, 2020, Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich, Spokane NAACP President Kurtis Robinson, and Spokane NAACP Vice President Kiantha Duncan updated stakeholders concerning the landmark agreement reached by President Robinson and Sheriff Knezovich in September of 2019. The signed document affirmed their commitment to open and honest data-driven discussions regarding racial disparity, and to develop a race equity strategic plan to be implemented in a long-term sustainable fashion. Today’s announcement stems from the landmark agreement reached by these two community leaders last September, which unfortunately was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Today’s announcement stems from the landmark agreement reached by these two community leaders last September, which unfortunately was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This work continued to move forward as a direct result of the Sheriff's Office and staff, Dr. Edward Byrnes, Spokane NAACP Executive Committee Members Le’Taxione & Devon Wilson, and Spokane NAACP Criminal Justice Committee Advisor Natashia Hill. The agreement specifically notes the following three processes: 1) Conduct an internal cultural inventory using an outside source, incorporating community accountability mechanisms, to evaluate the Department’s racial inclusion and race equity-based competence; 2) Develop a race equity strategic plan; implemented in a long-term, sustainable fashion. 3) Generate a commission report on stops, arrests, and use of force that includes a breakdown by race, gender and areas/districts. Commenting on the landmark agreement reached with Sheriff Knezovich, NAACP President Robinson said, “I believe integrity invites transparency and seeks out accountability. I am encouraged by the progress we’ve made together and I look forward to working together to find solutions to the racial disparity our community faces.” The work on “process (1)” will start immediately, with the identification and selection of a mutually agreed upon, generally unbiased, neutral entity, with the desire to begin this study in September. Sheriff Knezovich stated, “Based on the data compiled to date, there is a racial disparity concerning the arrests of African Americans and Native Americans. It is important to acknowledge this fact and, more importantly, identify what is driving these disparities. With this knowledge, we can identify solutions to an issue our community has faced for many years.”
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Also NAACP needs to interview people of color to find out how many are getting into trouble on a daily basis. You cant expect the police department to not detain people of color if they are in fact envolved in illegal activities. And your group is demanding a whole lot of specialized investigation. Shouldnt your group be taking on some of that responsability. Our law enforcment has a heavy load TALK IS CHEAP take the NAACP and walk the streets take poles go get a first hand view of your communities, sitting in your meetings does not accomplish what getting out there and meeting with the people ON THE PORCHES of their homes. GO TO THE HOOD AND KNOCK ON DOORS!
Gotta wonder why in almost every country the same problem exist from the same set sometimes perhaps rolling the reason isn't the solution
Would it not be more honest to say that there needs to be answers and solutions that are only socially acceptable and don’t offend anyone? Isn’t it more about not addressing real reasons but looking for solutions after the problem has grown into an insurmountable issue? Lots of catch phrases and a lot of asking for “change” but not sure what anyone really is trying to say with that.