For far too long African Americans in this community have been the target of police brutality and unfair safety practices. We are demanding that this ends immediately. Enough is Enough.
PSA
Be An Advocate for Black Men
This Letter Will Be Sent To
- Andrew Ginther, Mayor of Columbus
- Kevin Boyce, Franklin County Commissioner
- Shannon Hardin, City Council President
- Sheriff Dallas Baldwin, Franklin County
- The Acting Columbus Chief of Police
- Zach Klein, City Attorney
- Gary Tyack, Franklin County Prosecutor
- All Media Outlets
By signing this letter I am in support of the African American Men of Central Ohio’s ‘Enough is Enough’ campaign and request that the United States Department of Justice 21st Century policing guidelines be implemented.
Guidebook Summary on 21st Century Policing: Five Ways Stakeholder Groups Can Implement the Task Force’s Recommendations:
Local Government
1. Create listening opportunities with the community.
2. Allocate government resources to implementation.
3. Conduct community surveys on attitudes toward policing and publish the results.
4. Define the terms of civilian oversight to meet the community’s needs.
5. Recognize and address holistically the root causes of crime.
Law Enforcement
1. Review and update policies, training, and data collection on use of force, and engage community members and police labor unions in the process.
2. Increase transparency of data, policies, and procedures.
3. Call on the POST Commission to implement all levels of training.
4. Examine hiring practices and ways to involve the community in recruiting.
5. Ensure officers have access to the tools they need to keep them safe
Communities
1. Engage with local law enforcement; participate in meetings, surveys, and other activities.
2. Participate in problem-solving efforts to reduce crime and improve quality of life.
3. Work with local law enforcement to ensure crime-reducing resources and tactics are being deployed that mitigate unintended consequences.
4. Call on state legislators to ensure that the legal framework does not impede accountability for law enforcement.
5. Review school policies and practices, and advocate for early intervention strategies that minimize involvement of youth in the criminal justice system.
Petition by,Ubuntu Organization
The Letter
The Honorable Andrew J. Ginther
Office of Mayor
90 West Broad Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
The Honorable Kevin Boyce, President
Franklin County Commission
373 South High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Re: Community Policing
Mayor Ginther and Commissioner Boyce:
In the wake of recent events surrounding the deaths of Casey Goodson, Jr. and Andre Hill, we, the undersigned African American men of Central Ohio find ourselves in extreme anguish about ongoing cases of police brutality and this time in our own backyard. In a year where there has been an outcry for justice across this nation, beginning with the murder of George Floyd, the death of Breonna Taylor and killing of Ahmaud Arbery, followed by poor indictments for law enforcement, and being pepper sprayed for lifting our voices and physically forced to end our protest early, we are angry.
Enough is enough! For far too long, African Americans in this community have been the target of police brutality and unfair safety practices. We are demanding that this ENDS immediately!
The oath taken and the badge worn by our officers and governing officials are granted to individuals who have sworn to protect and serve the people of our community by ensuring safety and justice for all. However, time and time again we find ourselves being stereotyped and preyed upon by some of the very officers who are sworn to protect us. In many cases such as Casey Goodson, Jr. and Andre Hill being killed by the same law enforcement system that expects our trust, commitment and funding to support their role to serve us.
We will no longer tolerate this law enforcement culture which disrespects and devalues lives of Black and Brown residents with no accountability. We demand that the City of Columbus Police Department and Franklin County Sheriff’s Office implement the United States Department of Justice 21st Century Policing Guidelines (cops.usdoj.gov) to reform our law enforcement culture to improve the relationship and effectiveness of our criminal justice system with Blacks in Central Ohio.
Since enough is enough, we have petitioned the voices of the African American community, businesses, churches and faces of all backgrounds who share our anguish. We will hold law enforcement, legislators and all governing officials accountable for the sake of bringing an end to police brutality immediately.
Sincerely,
The African American Men of Central Ohio (see attached signatures)
CC: Shannon Hardin, City Council President
Sheriff Dallas Baldwin, Franklin County
The Acting Columbus Chief of Police
Zach Klein, City Attorney
Gary Tyack, Franklin County Prosecutor
All Media Outlets
Sign it!
Ubuntu
Ubuntu is an eternal African philosophy of ‘Oneness’ – this oneness is an understanding of the interconnectedness of all life.
“I am who I am because of who we all are”
Updates
We Will Win. A Statement on George Floyd, Andre Hill, Casey Goodson Jr. and Ma’Khia Bryant Press Release • Updates
No Sighs Of Relief…
The African American Male Wellness Agency Joins the Central Ohio Ubuntu Campaign Press Release
Recently, the African American Male Wellness Agency (AAWellness) announced its participation in the newly formed Ubuntu campaign.
“Once we learned about Ubuntu, we knew it was imperative to join the campaign,” said John Gregory, Founder of AAWellness. “We are sick and tired of hearing about black men dying in Central Ohio for absolutely no reason and want the Columbus Police Department to hold themselves accountable.”
“The wrongful deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and many more made it imperative for AAWellness to participate in the campaign and support its development,” said Marlon Platt, Executive Director of AAWellness.
Franklin County leads Ohio and is among top 20 U.S. counties in rate of fatal police shootings Updates
A new study shows Franklin County has the highest rate of fatal law enforcement shootings in Ohio and is among the highest in the nation.
The county has the highest rate of fatal shootings by law enforcement among Ohio’s metropolitan counties and is ranked 18th among the 100 most populous counties nationally, based on average annual fatality rate, according to the study by the Ohio Alliance for Innovation in Population Health released Tuesday.
The study, conducted through a partnership with Ohio University, analyzed six years of data compiled by The Washington Post’s fatal police shooting database, which did not previously factor in population or denote in which county a shooting happened. The report and The Post’s database used information on shootings that occurred between Jan. 1, 2015 through Dec. 31, 2020.
Tags: updatesCasey Goodson Jr.’s family says he was shot 6 times by Franklin County deputy Updates
Casey Goodson Jr.’s mother, Tamala Payne said Thursday he was six times by Franklin County Deputy Jason Meade on December 4.
Goodson’s family said he was shot five times in his back and once in his right buttock. The announcement was made after Payne met with Franklin County Coroner Dr. Anahi Ortiz and the deputy coroner who performed the autopsy.
Tags: updatesColumbus police falsely reported progress on promised reforms Updates
A Matter analysis of a dashboard meant to show the public the Columbus Division of Police’s reform progress revealed that some reforms were falsely reported as complete, raising questions on accuracy.
Tags: updatesFormer Columbus cop Adam Coy charged with murder of Andre Hill Updates
The former Columbus police officer accused of killing Andre Hill has been indicted for murder, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced at a press conference on Wednesday night. Adam Coy is accused of fatally shooting Hill, a 47-year-old Black man, during an early-morning encounter in a residential garage in late December.
Coy was indicted for murder in the commission of a felony, felonious assault, dereliction of duty for failing to activate his body camera and dereliction of duty for failing to tell his fellow officer that he believed Hill presented a danger, Yost said. The grand jurors did not indict Coy for purposeful murder.
“Andre Hill should not be dead,” Yost said, later adding that “I believe the evidence of this case supports the indictment.”
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/andre-hill-shooting-adam-coy-charged-murder-ohio/
Tags: updatesQuinlan stalled police reforms he opposed, leaked document shows Uncategorized
Notes from former Columbus Police Chief Thomas Quinlan revealed that the now deputy chief put about a dozen reforms suggested by a civilian commission last year on hold because he disagreed.
Tags: updatesColumbus Police Chief Tom Quinlan Steps Down At Mayor Ginther’s Request Updates
In an emailed statement, Ginther wrote the Quinlan could not implement change within the department.
“It became clear to me that Chief Quinlan could not successfully implement the reform and change I expect and that the community demands. Columbus residents have lost faith in him and in Division’s ability to change on its own,” Ginther said.
The statement says that Quinlan agreed to step back and serve as deputy chief.
Read More:
Tags: updatesSupporters
Carol Stegall
As African women and their descendents, we have watched as our families and communities destabilized by the massacre of our black men, today let us join our voices and declare ENOUGH IS ENOUGh!!
Michael O Carter
I am in support of this initiative.
Rev. Dr. Tim Ahrens
I support this initiative 100%. I stand with you. Let me know how I can help.
Jordan Miller III
The trauma and conditioning must end. Enough Is Enough!
Ervin Smith
It is time. Thanks !!!
Deacon Hooper
Thanks for writing the letter! We definitely need to stand up and demand police accountability.
Dr. Jefferey P . Kee
We’ve been quiet too long,. A national reporter asked me Why are African Americans in our city so quiet, when it keeps happening again and again.
I simply ask our community, is the real issue body cams?or MURDER????
Don’t allowThe primary issue to be secondary!
Terence Hinton
It’s time for New Leadership!
Roger E Madison
Too often, when the tragic events in our community don’t affect us directly, many of us Black men go about our daily lives with little urgency to act when another Black life is unnecessarily ended. It is important that we come together now, in the spirit of ubuntu, to lead the demand for change. Enough is enough!
michael campbell
I have been a community activist/advocate since 1975! I am thankful to my lord, to have survived many years of oppression, unfair policies, and systems in the country! This has been a divided America from its inception! The former president from 2016 election and too many of the current politicians still embrace oppression, unfairness of black people, and people of color! Despite this oppression, unfairness and down right racism, we black people remain strong in faith, love our families and help our communities! So enough is enough! The change has to be made by the 63 million people and the politicians who embrace oppression, racism and unfairness! There hate and hearts must change!
Kimberly M Gentry-Westbrook
I am a Mother/Grandmother raised all my life in Columbus, Ohio. I once use to love my community and city that I live in. Now this is no longer my feelings. As I see the openly racism towards people of color be it in the grocery store or Macy’s Tuttle Mall Easton Grove City and even restaurants. Not to mention the corporate market of job placement and respect of our culture in the workplace. I believe that it truly starts at the top GOVERNMENT. There are police that have always (in my opinion) been the only gang that gets away with murder, assault mental and verbal abuse, just because they carry a gun and wear a badge. What makes them any different than a civilian who is working and paying taxes that gets charged with a felony who loses everything and has to start all over? ENOUGH IS ENOUGH and it’s time to POLICE THE POLICE
I pray a covering daily over my my sons and grandsons as they leave their homes going to work and or school not only for the safety but for God to give them wisdom also. My concerns are much deeper than just police. It’s sad that we also have such a high volume of Black on Black Violence. So if I was a police officer in this community and had to always go to crime scene after crime scene day after day, I would probably be thinking like….Well if they kill each other, then what would it matter if I killed one also.? IJS!
LET’S GET TO THE ROOT.
We need fathers to to fatherless. Mothers to the motherless, family is not always blood related. IT TAKES A VILLIAGE.
O Michael Roberts
It has been far to long that black people in this United States of America have lived with the uneven scales of justice administered by law enforcement officers in the streets of our communities and in the judicial systems housed in courts and court houses and we need to hold the leaders of this country accountable be they Black or White or of Brown Color Enough Has Been to much Otis Redding said a change got come.
James Wynn
To have effective change in how law enforcement interacts with communities of color will take a culture shift within the police department. The FOP contract must be renegotiated to allow the Civilian Review Board to be effective in their purpose, of holding officers accountable for their actions. The Mayor and police chief would have to be change agents to lead the changes of reducing the overuse of force, providing transparency, and opening up communication between the community and the police force. Enough is Enough, but we must keep the pressure on, or all efforts will fade away, and they will be conducting business as usual.
Markkus Brown
There has to be peace of mind somewhere.
Cecil Jones
Destiny is in our hands. No excuses.
Melvin J Brown
It is far overdue to recognize us as people and to respect our humanity. We are not serving class citizens and we deserve the same protections that everyone else is afforded.
Dr. Carter D. Womack
For Columbus, Ohio and Columbus, Ohio area to ever be truly a leaders in all this changes must come in all area of true equality for ALL.
Benjamin E McDay
Search me, God, and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! Psalm 139: 23-24
Shawna
I have personally sought after justice for all in our Judicial and social community to balance equality in our Judicial system and society. Columbus is #1 in the nation for police murder black people especially black men. In 2011 the FBI reported that our police departments have been infiltrated by While Supremacists up to 90% through out the nation.
My group exercises the power of public response and is ready to place the bigger plan in motion.
-Target On My Back Where We Draw the Line