Agenda Alexandria will be hosting an online discussion of civilian review of law enforcement in Alexandria at noon on Monday, Oct. 26, 2020. Panelists include:
● Michael Brown, chief of the Alexandria Police Department
● Sarah Graham Taylor, legislative director for the city of Alexandria
● Ingris Moran, organizer for Tenants and Workers United
● Jon Liss, co-executive director of New Virginia Majority
The panel discussion comes at a critical time in Alexandria, just two weeks before the Alexandria City Council is expected to consider a proposal to create a new civilian review board for the Alexandria Police Department. The conversation also comes at a time when the Black Lives Matter movement across the country has been calling for increased accountability of law enforcement.
Here in Alexandria, most cases when officers use force are against Black people. Most drug arrests in Alexandria are of Black people. And almost half of the inmates at the Alexandria jail are Black people. These disparities are at the core of the movement to create a new level of oversight in the city, and Agenda Alexandria hopes to play a role taking a look at the issues without taking sides.
“It’s important for Alexandria to have a clear understanding as to how this might work,” said Val Hawkins, chairman of Agenda Alexandria. “This is the ideal forum for this discussion.” To register for the program, go to https://agendaalexandria.com/ and sign up.