This morning, I was texting with a friend who was born and raised in Evanston, who is a Black woman and mother of a Black young adult son. We talked about last Sunday's police shooting of Jacob Blake. Here's what she said.
She's not the first mom to tell me how her Black son is struggling and traumatized.
"My son is having issues with everything that is going on. He doesn’t want to leave out of his home," she said. "He told me he fears what may happen to him. Never been in trouble , a law abiding citizen, works daily. All I can do is pray and try my best to help him deal with being a Black Man in America. My heart is so heavy. I’m angry, disappointed, heartbroken. It hard for a mother to see their child hurt and you can’t physically do anything but encourage, pray, and hug them." Here's how you can learn more and get involved in reimagining the policing system in Evanston.
NOON
At noon, Mayor Steve Hagerty holds the last of nine Facebook discussions about policing in Evanston. Today's session, "Conversations with Black Youth on Policing" is as timely as ever but particularly considering the recent police shooting of Evanston's own son Jacob Blake.
You can submit questions ahead of time here.
The discussion will be live on the City's Facebook page.
Previous discussions in the series have focused on the Complaint Process, Use of Force and Body Cameras, EPD Collaboration with NUPD and Schools, Police Budget and Police Training. You can watch recordings of these discussions on the City's YouTube channel.
5 P.M. TONIGHT
The Human Services Committee, chaired by Ald. Eleanor Revelle, 7, continues its conversations about defunding/reallocating funding from the Evanston Police Department to community groups and organizations.
On the agenda
Items for consideration:
-- Alternative Emergency Response System -- Shared safety -- Reallocating EPD personnel -- Police Department Update
Items for Communication:
-- AMITA Health Saint Francis Hospital Evanston 24-hour crisis line update.
ALSO: READ EFBL's DEFUNDING PLAN OF ACTION
Last week, Evanston Fight for Black Lives released a detailed plan of action to defund the EPD, how to remodel the current police force, and immediate action steps to take into consideration. You can find their document here.
The plan lays out the group's requested commitments:
-- City Council to defund EPD by 75 percent.
-- A subcommittee of civilians and aldermen to be formed by September 21, 2020.
-- The subcommittee to hold a series of meetings weekly from September 21 to November 23, 2020.
-- Complaints made by citizens against any and all officers and EPD, as well as any budgetary, disciplinary, and office records that may be necessary, be made available to the committee by September 21.
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