Around 400 villagers protested the recent killings of Black people by police on Saturday, May 30. Another demonstration is set for Saturday, June 6, at 1 p.m. at the intersection of Xenia Avenue and Limestone Street. (Photo by Chandra Jones-Graham)
YSPD, Yellow Springs Schools issue statements on recent police killings
- Published: June 4, 2020
This week, Yellow Springs Police Chief Brian Carlson and Yellow Springs Schools Superintendent Terri Holden released statements addressing the recent death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis, and the ongoing issues of police brutality against people of color in the country. They discussed the impact of the week’s events on their respective institutions and their efforts to be actively “anti-racist.”
Carlson wrote, “the murder of George Floyd is a blatant demonstration of abuse of power and the result of systemic racism within the United States.” He adds:
The continued practice of targeting is due to deeply ingrained problems through poor law enforcement practices. Frankly, we, law enforcement officers, have to undo the toxicity present within the Law enforcement and judicial system. It is unacceptable to be complacent in any act of oppression; thus making it quintessential and our civic duty to undo the evident inequities and oppression to move towards a world in which all are safe.
Carlson said the the recent national incidents may lead to additional training for local officers on de-escalation tactics, nonviolent methods of restraint and “competency in race relations and knowledge of disparities that others face, especially those outside of our own.” “Instances of improper and discriminatory policing and practices that are created by implicit biases and prejudice will never be tolerated in Yellow Springs,” Carlson adds.
In her statement, Holden addresses the idea that “educators are not neutral:”
Educators are often told not to talk about politics or highly controversial public events. Some argue that we teach all children and our own personal beliefs should not get in the way. But teaching is a personal act. Education is not neutral. How do we teach our children if we cannot talk to them openly and honestly about issues and problems they see with their own eyes? We cannot be neutral about the death of another person of color at the hands of law enforcement. We cannot be neutral about the injustices that we see, about the injustices in a system of which we are a part, about the injustices our very own fearless thinkers of color face every day. Honoring the humanity in all of us is our responsibility. Teaching children to be better humans, through word and action, is our responsibility. The teachers, staff, and administrators take very seriously the responsibility to teach the children of Yellow Springs to be future ‘upstanders,’ activists, and empowered, engaged citizens.
Holden says that it is the responsibility of the local school district to “look inward, examine, and then dismantle any practices that reinforce racist attitudes and beliefs, however unintended and unconscious they may be.” This summer, local teachers will participate in a book study to explore inherent biases, followed by a community-wide book study.
Read the full statements at the links below.
3 Responses to “YSPD, Yellow Springs Schools issue statements on recent police killings”
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We are new to Yellow Springs, Ohio. Why did we choose Yellow Springs? Because from all we saw and read, this community values the honesty and life of its citizens. Like all communities, it is not perfect.
We expect that our presence never does harm to these values. We hope that we can participate instead in the forward movement of Yellow Springs. The village response to the uproar that has occurred due to the visible death of Mr. George Floyd is commendable and I expect, as do the citizens of Yellow Springs, that it will encourage the systemic changes necessary to honor his death and the deaths and sorrows put upon people because they are considered less due to color or economy. They are not less! We are all humans who need each other. Thank you.
Once again, I am honored to call Yellow Springs my home town. Thank you.
“THANK YOU!” for speaking up against social injustice and racism. The time is now. Seems to me all municipalities that have any social media account should make some public statement. Some have not uttered a word, yet, they remind us when to fly our flag and caution us to stay safe. How can this be?
(Silence speaks louder than words?)