April 14 was a national day of action as groups from coast to coast, in cities both large and small, turned out to express their outrage at the continued street executions by cops of unarmed citizens — mostly black — on the slightest of pretexts or provocations. Cleveland was also the venue of one of the protests, but the Plain Dealer and local TV outlets virtually ignored the large group, perhaps wishing they and their signs and banners would just go away. But that’s not going to happen.
A couple of hundred people from a variety of groups — including members of the family of Brandon Jones (who was killed by a Cleveland cop on March 19), ministers, revolutionaries, immigration rights activists, students from John Carroll University and young people from all over the city — joined together for a teach-in in front of the Justice Center before converging on City Hall and then peacefully marching through downtown streets.
The big news stories in town that day, however, were the bricks that fell from the parapet of a downtown office building, and of course the unveiling of the new colors for the Cleveland Browns, which is demonstrative of where local media attention is directed. And the media, of course, is really not to blame since it’s simply supplying the public with the pabulum it’s so desirous of … anything to avoid thinking uncomfortable thoughts about matters of import, especially if those matters might force us to look at our past, present and future in terms of how our nation treats citizens of color.
The protestors carried a huge 10-foot-high by 12-foot-wide poster with the images of people who have been killed by cops in Cleveland that were similar to posters carried by other groups in other cities. One main difference was that, while skirmishes with police that resulted in arrests took place in Oakland and New York, the demonstration here was peaceful — perhaps too peaceful.
Only fools advocate for protests to turn violent, since violence would only turn public opinion against the movements for justice around the country — but there is a need to keep vocal, firm and unrelenting pressure on the criminal justice system if change is to ever be effectuated. There’s a saying: “Closed mouths don’t get fed.”
A recent statement from Congresswoman Marcia Fudge, which stated in part, “The campaign to recall Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson is not warranted and is counterproductive,” did, however, leave the door open to future dialogue over the issue.
The missive further stated, “It detracts from community efforts to move the city forward and bring about meaningful change on important issues such as police reform, infrastructure improvements and neighborhood redevelopment.”
And while I agree wholeheartedly with Congresswoman Fudge’s assessment of the potential damage to the city and its reputation a recall effort will engender, we cannot simply ignore the continued intransigent actions of Mayor Jackson that is bringing us to this point.
She continues, “In its December 2014 report on the Cleveland Division of Police, the U.S. Department of Justice identified a series of concrete steps that, if fully implemented, can lead to lasting police reform.”
But the operative word in that sentence is “if.” There are many people who question if full implementation can and will occur while the two sides remain so far apart on a number of critical issues — such as the extent of dysfunction in the Division of Police and who was in leadership roles as the department deteriorated. Mayor Jackson gives his police department a grade of “B” but I seriously doubt that the majority of the citizenry — nor the Justice Department attorneys — agrees with that assessment.
And here’s a critical point in Congresswoman Fudge’s statement: “Much will depend on continued citizen engagement.” Indeed, if the consent decree is to work, it simply must have buy-in from Cleveland residents, and the mood of those residents (as I gauge it) is still highly skeptical, and for one reason: The continued presence of Special Assistant Marty Flask and Safety Director Michael McGrath.
The simple fact is, the public wants some accountability, and, while I concur with Cleveland Community Relations Director Blaine Griffin that removing those two from their positions would not solve the problem, I submit that the problem can’t begin to be solved as long as they remain in office and power.
Fudge states that “Any effort to remove the Mayor from office serves only to divide rather than unite our community at this critical juncture,” and again I totally agree. But if that’s the case, why does the mayor continue on a course of action that leaves citizens little recourse but to express their displeasure via a recall effort. I further submit that Mayor Jackson’s first loyalty has to be to the City of Cleveland and its residents, not to two employees whose continued presence remains an irritant.
In closing the congresswoman states, “I too feel the frustration many residents are expressing, and I stand ready to convene a meeting to discuss their grievances and work with responsible parties to achieve a positive path forward.”
We can only hope that someone or some group quickly takes Congresswoman Fudge up on her offer and make their feelings known in no uncertain terms.
[photo: Erik Drost]
From Cool Cleveland correspondent Mansfield B. Frazier mansfieldfATgmail.com. Frazier’s From Behind The Wall: Commentary on Crime, Punishment, Race and the Underclass by a Prison Inmate is available again in hardback. Snag your copy and have it signed by the author by visiting http://NeighborhoodSolutionsInc.com.