Community and government leaders discuss racial discord, a black member of law enforcement officer shares his perspective, making a statement at the ESPY's.
LA's Day of Dialogue a safe space for civilians and officers alike
Tonight, President Obama will host a conversation about race relations, justice, policing and equality.
The goal is to bring together police officers, parents, students, and families affected by recent violence in Baton Rouge, Minneapolis, and Dallas in a frank yet civil dialogue.
It was much more of a public discussion than the one that the had yesterday when he spent more than four hours in a closed-door meeting with about three dozen elected officials, law enforcement representatives, and community activists.
Present at that White House meeting were police groups and activists who don't always agree with each other, but, in the end, they did agree that the meeting was productive and could eventually lead to building trust.
Among the attendees were LA Mayor Eric Garcetti and LAPD Chief Charlie Beck. Beck told the LA Times, "We didn't agree on everything ... But we all agreed that the discussion has become far too polarized, that people aren't listening to each other, people aren't showing empathy."
In LA Wednesday night, people attempted to hear each other and show such empathy.
At a conference room in Exposition Park, LAPD officers and residents gathered for an event titled, Days of Dialogue; it's part of an ongoing program organized by a group called The Institute for Non-Violence.
For next-day reflections, Take Two spoke with two guests:
- Avis Ridley-Thomas, co-director of The Institute for Non-Violence
- Bill Scott, deputy chief and commanding officer of operations at the LAPD's South Bureau
(Questions and answers have been edited for clarity.)
Highlights
When and how did the Days of Dialogue program first come to be?
Avis Ridley-Thomas: Days of Dialogue started in 1995 in response to the criminal trial of OJ Simpson and the Million Man March and the environment in which we found ourselves — really a divided community. So our prophetic leaders were called together, and one of them just recommended that we just have a day of dialogue in Los Angeles. We decided a day of dialogue on race relations would be our first activity.
Avis Ridley-Thomas, you've been doing this for a while now. Over the years, what have you learned about ways in which you can best create spaces where people feel free enough to speak their minds, and yet still safe and comfortable?
What I have learned is what I have learned as a founding director of the City Attorney's Dispute Resolution Program: that when you have neutral facilitators of a conversation, a structure in place, ground rules, when you ensure that everyone's voice will be respected and heard, and you have that facilitator helping to make that happen, and each of those small groups have the opportunity to dialogue, there is always a positive evaluation of that dialogue.
Bill Scott, can you talk to me about some of the conversations that you were a part of last night?
There were a lot of questions directed to me, particularly because of my position and twenty-six years of experience with LAPD. There were a lot of questions regarding use of force, shooting of unarmed black males particularly that were directed toward me, and many of them in the context of what does or what would LAPD do in a certain situation.
The other part of it is as an African-American male; some of the questions were directed towards me as, "how do you feel as an African American male to see these incidents happening?" One of the things when you're in uniform — you have to be very careful about what you say and how you say it because you're representing — not only law enforcement — but you're representing your city and your organization. It's difficult to infuse your personal opinion into a conversation about that.
I would imagine that at some point it must be so hard that you have to let down some of that guard to answer somewhat personally. Is that even possible?
Bill Scott: It is possible, and this is the beauty of last night's event and this type of event. I'm gonna use Mayor Garcetti's words because I sat in a meeting with him the other day and one of his goals was to create safe places and safe spaces to have those conversations. And what I think that means is give the law enforcement officers a place to have dialogue as well, because often, you don't feel safe in having those type of really deep conversations. Last night's event — at least for me — I felt safe in having that kind of conversation, and that was — believe it or not — an empowering feeling for me.
Press the blue play button above to hear the full interview.
SBPD officer Darren Sims: "I don't go to work every day and say I want to be in a shooting"
Now for the perspective from one law enforcement officer who we have heard from before.
Darren Sims is an officer with the San Bernardino Police Department.
Last year, he told us about the challenges of being a black policeman - especially in San Bernardino where the majority of officers are white, and the majority of citizens are Latino.
Being black and having a badge has given him a unique perspective as cops face more scrutiny from communities of color.
Sims told A Martinez over the phone that after fatal shootings like the ones that occurred in Baton Rouge and Minneapolis last week, the job scrutiny has increased more than ever.
Getting out of a vehicle and going on a traffic stop... My job is obviously to enforce the law and make sure everyone's safe. I've pulled someone over a couple of times this week, I've gotten "My hands are on the steering wheel. Don't shoot me." The idea is that every time a cop pulls someone over now they may be shot. The idea that law enforcement is blood thirsty and out to kill people and that is completely un true.
On what he would say to set people's fears at easy during a routine traffic stop
I'd say, "My name is Officer Sims. I work the San Bernardino Police Department. I pulled you over for speeding," or "I pulled you over for a tail light," or "I pulled you over for running that stop sign. Do you have your license and registration?".... I try to use my verbal communication skills to lower tensions and help the process go smoothly.
The racial epithets that he constantly hears as a black cop
I've accepted it as part of the job. I don't get upset at it. I think as I mature in this profession, I start to see things for what they are. I don't think that people are angry at police officers on an individual basis. I think people are angry and don't trust the uniform that we wear and what we stand for. When I go out there and someone yells a racial slur, they're not yelling at me. They're yelling at what I stand for. They don't like what I stand for. If we were in a store or I was off duty in plain clothes, would they have said that to me? And the answer nine times out of ten is no.
On whether police officers take on too many roles in the community
I think as a whole law enforcement officer, we take on a lot of responsibilities. Obviously there's a mental health issues. As police officers we contact subjects that have mental health issues... We have medical issues that we have to address and we have to cater to. There's a lot of different hats we have to wear as cops. And in my opinion it can stretch us thin. It seems like you have to be an expert in almost everything. We have to react almost perfectly all the time. And if we don't, the one time that we don't we're going to be scrutinized and laid out as a target by the media and by the community.
On what needs to be done to fix the void between police and the communities they serve
I think there has to be some work done on both sides. If someone is contacted by law-enforcement, and it can be something as minor as an infraction, for that officer's safety they're gonna give you verbal commands. And those verbal commands are going to be for your safety and his safety. The moment that you disobey those commands... you have committed a misdemeanor. That is not the time to debate it or fight your case ... On the other hand law enforcement, we have to slow down. We have to understand that there is some apprehension, especially with the black community. I'm not saying we have to do our job any less safe or any less safe, but we have to... go out to the football, we have to go out to the basketball games, we have to go out to the different sporting events... We have to show our face
On whether or not he's been stopped by police
I have been stopped. I was riding somewhere up in San Bernardino county and I get off the freeway and I got stopped by the police. I pulled over turned my lights off, turned my music off and he told me why he stopped me.... It was peaceful. It was perfectly fine. There was one thing that one of my buddies that I was with, he didn't like very much. He said, "Why is that officer touching is gun? Is he gonna shoot you?" No, our guns and out tools are on our belt and sometimes it's just really comfortable to keep our hands on those tools. It doesn't mean that we're trying to be aggressive or intimidating. I do it at work all time and I don't even realize it.
On what he tells those who are too scared of cops to ask for their help
I'd like to think that if anyone was in need of help and they needed us, that they would call us. Our job isn't about making people scared of us. Our job is to keep people safe. We're here to enforce the law. I don't go to work every day and say "I wanna be in a shooting." I don't. Force is a part of our job that is ugly and raises a lot of questions, but it's a necessary part of our jobs to keep ourselves safe.
Answers have been edited for clarity.
To hear the full conversation, click the blue player above.
State of Affairs: the RNC, Sanders endorses Clinton, and CA primary problems
On this week's State of Affairs, who is (and isn't) headed to the Republican National Convention, what Bernie Sanders' endorsement of Hillary Clinton means for his California supporters, and a postmortem on the California primary.
Joining Take Two to discuss:
- Mary Plummer, KPCC's Senior Politics Reporter
- Marisa Lagos, KQED Political Reporter
The ESPY Awards and how athletes take on social issues
Yesterday at the 2016 ESPY Awards four NBA stars commented on racial injustice and police violence in America.
Lebron James, along with NBA superstars Carmelo Anthony, Dwayne Wade and Chris Paul alluded to recent events in Dallas and incidents with African American men and police.
For more on the show, and to talk about athletes and social issues, we talk to
of ESPN LA.
Interview Highlights
How'd it look on stage, was it subtle, what were the optics?
"I think that was the power in it, I think it was the fact that there wasn't a bunch of show, pageantry...it was more focused on them and their words and the way that they stood next to each other, it seemed very united, they all stood tall. So, I think the power was in the athletes themselves and the way that they positioned themselves while then relaying the words that they did."
What's the reaction been like?
"...I don't think people were as shocked or awed by it because I think we've seen athlete's tweet, we've seen athletes post on Instagram or maybe do a 10 second video so we're a bit more accustomed to it as opposed to a lot of the athletes that Chris Paul mentioned back in the 50's, 60's and 70's where you were maybe a pariah if you were to speak out on certain things back then so...but the buzz was...it was a very united buzz I think the ESPYS draws that because of the fact that it's generating funds for the V foundation and cancer research, remember Caitlyn Jenner last year? There's always been a powerful speech, there's always been a powerful message..."
What do you think resonated the most?
"The fact that they did it, I know that that seems simple, but the fact that they did it and the fact that they did it on that stage and that platform. And the best part about it is, you and I --we're all having this conversation, we're having that dialogue and...nothing can change overnight...we all know it's going to take time, it's going to take changes in laws and reform in certain areas but the reality is we have to have an open and honest dialogue and when that happens, you can then at least have respect for one another. You and I may not agree on everything, we may not see things eye to eye, but at least we can have a respect..."
To hear the full segment, click the blue play button above.
This post has been updated.
Emmy awards: 'Game of Thrones' earns a leading 22 nominations
Power-and-blood fantasy saga "Game of Thrones" ruled the Emmy nominations Thursday with a leading 23 bids, including best drama, while a real-life epic of murder and celebrity, "The People v. O.J. Simpson," was close behind with 22 nods.
"Game of Thrones" gets the chance to win its second top Emmy, while "Veep," last year's top comedy winner, also will get another shot at holding office.
Breakthrough nominations include a best comedy series nod for sophomore "black-ish," which brought the African-American family comedy back to network TV, with bids as well for its stars, Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross.
They were among a number of black actors recognized by TV academy voters, who have started to keep pace with TV's growing diversity — in sharp contrast to the moviedom's Academy Awards, which were slammed as "OscarsSoWhite" this year.
— Lynn Elber/AP
Take Two will be discussing the nominations. Listen live starting at 9 a.m.
You can see the full list of nominations below:
Lab Notes: Blobs, cannibals and shrinking objects
On today's Lab Notes, Take Two's regular look at science:
- Blobs
- Cannibals,
- and shrinking objects
Stuff you'd expect to find in a 50's sci-fi movie. Here as always, the hero of this B-rate matinee picture show, Southern California Public radio's Sanden Totten.
To hear the full segment, click the blue play button above.