Community leaders and law enforcement officials from around Ohio met at the University of Cincinnati yesterday for the fourth and final time to continue working on ways to improve police-community relations. Members of the Ohio Task Force on Police-Community Relations will soon start preparing recommendations for state leaders. Ann Thompson of member station WVXU in Cincinnati reports.
Marjorie Mosely was of the last 48 speakers to give the panel and the public a piece of her mind.
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Moseley was outspoken during the 2001 riots in Cincinnati and let it be known to the two dozen panel members it will take a long time to rid society of racism. Some took their frustrations out on the panel itself, including Vanisa Siler of the Ohio Student Association. She questioned whether the task force would do anything.
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But wait a minute says panel co-chair Nina Turner, who asked for this task force to be formed. She said she would not sit by and be insulted.
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Turner says this is going to be a very action oriented task force. She says everybody is sitting here traveling the state because they want action. At the heart of the five hour meeting there were about 150 people. Near the end the numbers dwindled and that bothered Tonya Hart.
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There was concrete information proposed during the night. Suggestions included a barbeque with police and African American youth, stress-reduction training, mentoring, and greater transparency. Co-Chair Turner said the task force is just one way to make change. It’s not the only way. The panel will deliver its recommendations to the Governor by April 30th.