Law Enforcement Officers Field Questions in Respectful Discussion on Racial Profiling, Police Violence
Eight members of the campus organization, Black Student Initiative (BSI), performed a dramatic skit accentuating African-Americans killed in recent years by what many feel was unwarranted police violence. As the names of victims were read aloud to the sound of gunshots, one by one, the students fell upon the stage.
(PICTURED) BSI members symbolically fall as names of African-Americans killed by police are listed.
Their compelling drama — titled “I Am,” as in “I am Mike Brown,” “I am Tamir Rice,” “I am John Crawford III,” etc. — was part of the College’s Black History Month African Village presentation, which deviated from its typical talent show format to highlighting the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement.
Its centerpiece was a calm and civil discussion of audience members’ questions featuring BLM representative Prentiss Haney; Tanya Maus, director of the Peace Resource Center; Capt. Michael Neville, Cincinnati Police Dept.; and Deputy Treavon Williams, Clinton County Sheriff’s Dept.
Maus said she believes the Black Lives Matter movement is a response to systemic racism in American society and reflects the “frustration, rage and loss of life from police violence” felt by many, particularly in the black community.
Both of the law enforcement officers asked the audience to consider what they’re up against when confronting unknown scenarios. Neither believes police are inherently racist.
“I don’t know what I’m walking up on (at a traffic stop),” said Williams, a young African-American deputy. “You could be a murderer or just a person on your way to work. The way I act toward you is determined by the way you act toward me.”
“Are we perfect? No, we are not,” said Neville, a 30-plus year veteran of the Cincinnati police force. “But we’re not out there to harass you because you’re black, white or Hispanic. “I’ve seen it (racism by police) and I’ve issued discipline to officers for how they’ve acted.”
Neville shared the story of having to tell the wife of a good friend and fellow officer, and their three children, last June that their husband/father was killed in the line of duty.
“I know the feeling of a cop approaching an unknown situation,” he said, “that the car you pull over might just be the last car you pull over.”
Haney shared that, while admitting most of his encounters with police have been positive, he had the paralyzing feeling of being racially profiled during a recent traffic stop.
Neville asked students to — when confronted by police — think of that officer as if he or she were a friend or relative that’s literally walking into the unknown.
“Realize there’s a human being behind the badge,” he said. “I have a heart when I have a badge on my chest and a gun on my belt.”
In addition to the BSI members participating in the “I Am” skit, other presenters at African Village were Brandin Johnson and Cierra Johnson, who performed an interpretive dance to Michael Jackson’s song, “They Really Don’t Care about Us”; interpretive art by Kentell Lodge; and a welcome from a group of drummers known as the Legacy Troupe, which was comprised of Tahj Sho-Johnson, Nireshawn Ruth, Seth Murdock and Chip Murdock, the latter of whom emceed the show and is the director of multicultural affairs.
