(CLEVELAND, OH, 8/28/15) – The Cleveland branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Collaborative for a Safe, Fair and Just Cleveland, and the Cleveland chapter of the National Lawyers Guild today released an open letter outlining issues that must be resolved to better ensure that the Community Police Commission may operate more effectively and inclusively once established.
[NOTE: The Cleveland chapter of the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Cleveland) is a founding member of the Collaborative for a Safe, Fair and Just Cleveland.]
The open letter, addressed to Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson and U.S. Attorney Steven Dettelbach, reiterates issues raised previously with the U.S. Department of Justice and City of Cleveland immediately following the public release of the consent decree in May 2015. As of today, the concerns have not been addressed by the parties to the settlement agreement.
“During the consent decree drafting process, we strongly advocated for the formation of a community police commission, and we still support the idea,” said Ed Little, criminal and juvenile justice consultant and founding member of the Collaborative for a Safe, Fair and Just Cleveland. “That is why we are asking the city and the DOJ to address, in a timely manner, what we consider to be serious potential impediments for the Commission in carrying out its central and critical mission in the reform process.”
SEE: Open Letter on the Community Police Commission
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
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CONTACT: James Hardiman, NAACP, 216.256.6544, E-Mail, attyjhard@aol.com; Julia A. Shearson, Council on American-Islamic Relations, Cleveland Chapter, 216.440.2247, 216.830.2247, E-Mail: jshearson@cair.com; Terry Gilbert, National Lawyers Guild, 216.241.1430, E-Mail: TGilbert@f-glaw.com