Tacoma, Wash. – Who feels safe in Tacoma streets? Street safety initiatives often rely on police enforcement with racially asymmetrical impacts. Join us for an exploration into what contributes to real and perceived safety in public spaces, focusing on how race informs safety, why, and a few ideas of steps to address racism in public space safety.
The free virtual event, sponsored by Parametrix, will be held on Feb. 26, 2021 from noon – 1:00 p.m. and will feature panelists Liz Kaster (Senior Planner & Active Transportation Coordinator, City of Tacoma), Isha Hussein (Youth Organizer, The People’s Assembly), Naomi Smith (Attorney at Law, Lawyers Against Systemic Racism, Advocacy Committee Co-chair) and panel moderator, Tanisha Jumper (Media and Communications Director, City of Tacoma).
Register in advance for this webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Listen to a recording of the forum and hear a follow-up discussion on Channel 253’s Crossing Division podcast, or catch it on TV Tacoma.
Save the date for our final Friday Forum discussion on March 26 focused on Racism in Transportation Policy.
The Downtown On the Go’s annual Friday Forum series is an opportunity to learn about transportation issues and opportunities in Tacoma, to discuss real challenges facing downtown commuters and residents, and to hear about new ideas in the transportation world. Thank you to the Friday Forum media sponsor, Channel 253.
Find Downtown On the Go at downtownonthego.org, or on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
John Arbeeny says
“………..police enforcement with racially asymmetrical impacts….” How about for starters not doing the crime so you don’t have to do the time? “Racially asymmetrical impacts”? You mean more blacks/minorities are arrested, charged and convicted? Say what you mean. Statistics show the asymmetrical criminality found in some black/minority communities. Is it so surprising that arrests are also “asymmetrical”? How much emphasis are you going to place upon the police to change the way the do business versus how the black/minority communities do business in ridding themselves of their criminal elements? Many a truth is said in jest. Chris Rock’s video would be funny if it wasn’t so true and just common sense. How not to get your ass kicked by the police: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj0mtxXEGE8. Any time you begin to base your recommendations upon race you have de facto become a racist.
R. Sidney Cloud says
Mr. Arbeeny, How many Black men have been shot and killed for holding a cell phone thought to be a gun? How many White men have been killed for holding a cell phone thought to be a gun? That’s the kind of inequity that exists. The examples go on and on and on. I am amazed that you seem to not know about the racial discrimination built into legislation passed, the way laws are enforced and the punishments handed out. Or am I?
John Arbeeny says
I think you are a bit naive. There are undoubtedly unfortunate confrontations between police and people of all races. Blacks holding cel phones gets media attention; whites holding cel phones doesn’t. Where’s the equity in that? There are many good police and a relatively few bad police. That a bad cop makes a bad choice isn’t indicative of a racist law enforcement. To simply use a cherry picked example or make broad brush accusations doesn’t make it so. “The examples go on and on.” Elucidate please. How about taking a color blind look at all examples of police malfeasance across racial lines? How about stating what in legislation is racially discriminatory?
Just for murders alone 13% of the population (blacks: actually a very small percentage of that population) is responsible for over 50% of the murders of which 90% were fellow blacks. And you think that more “woke” policing methods are going to somehow change that? Cops know their neighborhoods and know that in crime ridden areas their lives are at far greater risk. As a result the potential for deadly force much greater. And just who is responsible for that elevated risk? Simply put: the residents. To the extent that criminality is allowed to fester, police will always have a tendency to err on the side “excessive” (post facto) force if for no other reason than to return home alive after their shift.
R. Sidney Cloud says
A PhD thesis could (and maybe has been) be written about legislative racism so I’ll mention only one. The U.S. Constitution allowed Blacks to be enslaved and only counted them as part of a person for the census. It was almost 90 years and a war later that some change was made. The acceptance of those carrying the Confederate War Flag in the attack on the Congress in January confirms the continued presence of serious racism today. As does former President Trump’s ordering the assassinations of the Iranian General because he was planning to kill American troops and yet demanding that Confederate. Generals who killed hundreds of thousands continue to be honored by statues and naming bases for them. “There are none so blind as those who refuse to see.”
John Arbeeny says
How about something a bit more recent that 200+ years ago? Let’s say over the last 50 years since the Civil Rights legislation of the 1960’s. And yes 90 years later a change was made to correct that injustice and we’ve continued to make progress since. Perhaps you don’t know that the 3/5th solution was a necessity for northern states to get the agreement with southern states to adopt the Constitution. Had it not been agreed to, we’d still be 13 separate states or at best separate northern and southern countries. History is history and erasing it does no one a favor.
Scooter says
Mr. Cloud,
As a white male who grew up in as a minority in South Seattle I understand your reply. The issue has been around for generations, possibly with current officers tired of double standards..
On the other hand where have been the unreported true number of crimes of blacks on whites in the last 20 years?
The FBI stats dropped them from local police depts.
I know as a youth during the 60’s and 70’s there were many times I was beaten and had weapons put in my face by blacks during and after school I cannot recall the numbers.
I do remember being told by school admins not to report the issues, one admin went on to being Sea city council member.
So you may understand that not only have blacks been perceived as being targeted by the police, ask yourself how do we stop the blame game and proceed forward as a community?
The police are the line between society in Harmony or upheaval. They are also human with numerous restraints placed on them to keep the peace.
My opinion.
R. Sidney Cloud says
Somehow your being mistreated by Blacks in your school years doesn’t lend much credence to the claim that the police and society don’t treat Blacks in racialist ways. It would be interesting to understand why the school administrators would advise against reporting the incidents. It would be interesting to hear your comparison of the way you were treated with the acts Emmett Tillman or Addie Mae Collins and Cynthia Wesley suffered.
Scooter says
I was making a correlation that between ages 5 to 18, informative years, that I was on the other end of the spectrum being a white minority.
The years were 60s thru late 70s, so I was taught how young black males were angry at me for my skin color. I know, boo hoo.
School Admin, principal, didn’t want police notified as she was running for Seattle City council and wanted a good record for the schools she was at.
As for society and police being racist towards Blacks, Too broad and too vague to answer honestly.
My thoughts of Blacks who were killed by the police and my experiences?
I don’t know the facts of their deaths as data at times takes awhile to come out, not just the main stream media..
Though if the punks who placed the .45 or .38 had pulled the trigger while they robbed me a totally different story.
These were schoolmates I attended schools and graduated with. So I learned to live in fear of some, not all, blacks.
All this to reply to asking if Street Safety is Anti-Racist..
Lynda F. says
You got to be kidding. I sure do hope so. Have you been paying attention to the #BlackLivesMatter protests? The peaceful gatherings of people of color, who were instantly tear gassed, shot with rubber bullets, beat with batons? They did nothing to be treated in such a despicable manner. Why? It’s not because of the reasons you have given. It’s called black suppression and it’s been going on for centuries. And needs to be put to an end! You need some re-education it seems. Truth is a hella drug. You should try it sometime.
I really hesitated in answering to anyone in this ‘rag’, as it appears more and more of the ‘dear’ readers are heading more toward racism every day. This area wasn’t like this several years ago. Well, in my innocent views anyway. I grew up here and there was a good mix of races thanks to Ft Lewis and McChord. The only violence I ever encountered was perpetrated by whites! Shocking, I know. But sadly very true.
I have been doing a fair bit of reading up on statistics, and causes for the reasons police are so racist. It is horrifying, the things they have been allowed to get away with. Plus, the reasons Blacks have gotten a lot madder, and why they are acting out more.
I implore you to do some of your own exploring into the why’s and wherefores of this issue, before you open your mouth and show how ignorant a person can be. Or is that Racism poking out it’s ugly head?
Scooter says
A great response Lydia!
Sounds as though we are in agreement that this area has changed and years ago it wasn’t like this.
Reflection of all of us as to racism is needed.
I remember my HS teacher being surprised when all students replied we were prejudice to others based on anything, not just skin color!
Peace!
John Arbeeny says
“…….peaceful gatherings of people of color, who were instantly tear gassed, shot with rubber bullets, beat with batons?” Really? In reality they burned down cities, killed a black police captain, rampaged and looted at will? Who were the primary victims? Yes, other blacks. What planet have you been living on? Just review all the “peaceful” demonstrations…….i.e. riots……..that BLM participated in. “Acting out”? You mean like a spoiled child? Call it what it was: rampant criminality in the name of “racial justice”. “The only violence I ever encountered was perpetrated by whites!”???Check the stats: black on white crime far exceeds white on black crime. Believe what you will but facts are facts.
Lynda F says
Oh dear. Your major news source is Fox isn’t it. In the ‘real’ reality, it was white supremacists who did so much of the damage at the protests. During the Watts riots (called that because it was) there was damage done. By neighbors. By the very people who lived there. They were under so much pressure they finally burst. That hasn’t been the norm for current protests.
Shift to now. Most protests were peaceful to start. My grands attended. You can be very sure if there had been a hint of violence they never would have gone. For days protests were fine. One day though, as I was watching one that was After the EXprez ordered people gathered in DC, be assaulted with pepper spray and rubber bullets. They Still didn’t riot. after that, the police were brought out in full riot gear in this area. It was shown that a bunch of YTs were damaging property. I watched as one person was walking down a business district, breaking all the windows. He was. Not a person of any color. He was a stinking white one. Too many were out hoping to escalate things to riot. Police responded in kind. Beating spraying and arresting Blacks who had done nothing. Ignoring the YTs who were doing the damage.
I don’t dispute some of what you’ve said. There is a lot of work to be done to bring as many as we can to agreement on how Blacks are/have been treated for Too long, and how we will change it. Did you notice that there was a big mix of colors and non-colors at these protests? I did see fox referring to these gatherings as violent riots. I don’t think Tucker even knows what that means. Not to mention the rest of the fantasy crew.
I am very saddened by people who don’t want to see how things really are in life. I do see a lot of fear from them. I think they think if POC gain more power, they will treat us the way ‘we’ have treated them. I find that to be false in my experience. Be not afraid. Be respectful. Be thoughtful. Be kind. Be true to yourself. This last one may take awhile to find truth inside.
Scooter says
Lydia,
I read into your replies a lot of anger, and from your life experiences no doubt s justly due.
I shared as a young white male I took beatings from blacks yet I also had family friends which my father taught me how to treat as family.
I learned that I never wanted to let Me. Or Mrs. S down and the same of my friends with my father. A stern word or lecture from this man of Integrity went a far way for I held him up as another father figure.
I think part of the issue with Protesting or riots, has been the lack of leadership at numerous levels to place a check on it this past year, due to fear of upheaval.
Your comments about Watts was interesting, tho I drove through the area in 1991 and recall a Fire Ladder unit refusing to vacate their vehicle until police vehicles were in place for protection. This was before the Rodney King incident as a FYI.
In our county, Sheriff Pasteur held the State Constitution in place as the Chief Law Officer for any county is the Sheriff!
I think too many cities have overlooked this and not working with the community and the Sheriff dept opens up a wider divide.
I ask all pray for healing of this nation for if we splinter into factions then we could start looking like Lebanon after the mid 70’s internal civil strife tore it apart in my humble opinion.
Lynda F says
Scooter, I do have a useless anger towards the white supremacists. Their supposed superior DNA, and lack of compassion towards anyone who doesn’t look like they do.
Yet, I still plow through all of it, until I am at a place where I must answer a wrong minded person. (IMO) it’s difficult to speak. But, here I was addressing John. I forget the when’s and how’s and other things. But, I remember the concealed hatred some have for ‘others’
When younger, I equated it with how the rich kids treated the poors, like me. I learned that racism is so much worse than that. It sickens me, and I try to imagine how it must feel to be treated like nothing but ? on a shoe. The more I learn real history, not what we were fed in school, though some of that was good. There just wasn’t enough.
Having loved ones of a couple of colors, I am more motivated to attempt to Do something about racism, even if I am ineffectual in my endeavor. I don’t want to be angry at anyone, but I’ve seen hatred for the last four years. It was inescapable. Healing may happen one day. Sure hope it’s sooner than later.
Scooter says
Lydia,
We are closer in thinking from life experiences.
I too remember the upperclass elite teasing kids of any color because of simply bringing lunch in the same paper bag to school.
I am black and white type when it comes to the law.
Street racing, blocking intersection, streets, etc are against the law, yet I recall in the 70’s I was part of the weekly loops in the Sound and remember everyone scattering and hoping not to be the few caught!
Yup, times have changed and I want to see my younger generation grow up respecting the laws and their elders!
Scooter says
I appreciate the thesis and history reminder of the Blacks being counted as a percentage of the census for almost 100 years, when counted.
I also found the counting of Chinese most racist interesting as well.
The Confederate flag flown is not the War flag, it is the known Confederate Battle Flag. Just a FYI..
** Don’t forget that Protestors had stormed the Capitol a year earlier but not in large numbers but they did get by Security and staged their event in the rotunda at least **
Please check and see who led the troops during the Spanish-American War, and note the 3 star General was once also a Confederate General!
Should his name be removed from any military establishment? (Post name, street names etc)
If so, should the same standard be held up to all-Volunteer 2nd? Louisiana regiment which served in the Confederacy if streets or towns named after any members?
R. Sidney Cloud says
Mr. Arbeeny, The need for the Civil Rights act points out that the systemic racism was still very much present 100 years after the Civil War; the injustice was not corrected. And since the Trump Administration’s suit resulted in the Supreme Court ruling that some of the provisions in the Voting Rights Act were no longer necessary, many new laws have been written that make it harder to register and to vote. Many of these written have greatest impact on the poor and people of color. One must be very naive to believe that was by accident. It puzzles me how my noting the racism in our earliest documents could be construed as trying to erase history. History is funny. How unusual that the Southern States would insist on counting their slaves as less than one person as that would potentially decrease the number of Representatives to Congress. It would have been more likely that the Northern States would want that provision. Either way it is racist.
R. Sidney Cloud says
Scooter, The problem the counting of the Chinese and their exclusion from immigrating point to the fact that our racism is equal opportunity for all, (to be oppressed) not just Blacks. Thank you for the correction of my using War instead of Battle in naming the Confederate Battle Flag. After 40 years in the Army the distinction between War and Battle blurs sometimes. This flag actually began as the flag used by Gen. Lee of the Army of Northern Virginia to replace the “Stars and Bars Flag” adopted by the Confederacy which was too similar to “Old Glory” for use in the field. There actually were many “battle flags” used by the various units. As to a Confederate General being accepted into the US Army, I know of no law against it. The requirement in the surrender was for Confederate troops not to engage in conflict against the US. Emmett Till, Addie Mae Collins, and Cynthia Wesley were not killed by the police. I mentioned them as examples of the level of brutalities of the KKK and absence and delay of justice that followed. Google will give you more information than most will want.
Scooter says
R. —
Thanks for the reply andorr importantly your decades of service with the military, no need to explain your blurred difference between war and battle.
As a Top once reminded me, you don’t care what it’s called when someone is shooting at you!
Parts of the 1st Marine division were the ones who flew the Stars and Bars during WW1, 2, Korea (Chosin Reservoir) and ‘Nam.
I believe that it was frowned upon during the Iraq, Afghan wars.
In WW2, I believe that the Texas Lost Battalion saved by the all-Nissei 442nd Regiment
in Italy, took their flag down and gave it to the soldiers as their award.
As for Confederate Generals, they and leaders of the South were suppose to have lost the right to vote or hold office until Pres. Johnson was voted out and Reconstruction was over, thus leading to KKK to explode in the South.
As for the inhumane and ungodly manners the KKK treated blacks, I am actually more aware than many others as I studied numerous incidents incidents prior to their existence, throughout the decades after the Civil War to some current day cases.
I was assigned to JBLM Force Protection for over 15 years as well as some NAS so read of civilian and military incidents occuring.
I was often sickened by how a fellow human being treated another and the reason,excuses given as justification for their actions.
I watch Mississippi Burning for the scene of Black man describing incident done to a Black youth and the look on the Klansman as he thinks it’s going to happen to him. Poetic Justice if it had happened..
Someday Bass Reeves may also be given full credit as being the one behind the Lone Ranger!
He was a US Federal Marshall from 1874-1903? Who was not only Black but was sought out by “Hanging” Judge Parker as excellent tracker and one who knew the 5 primary Indian languages of the Oklahoma territory ,(different topic)..