In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Gary Peters joined 82nd Attorney General Eric Holder and Detroit NAACP Branch President Reverend Wendell Anthony for a discussion on racial justice, moderated by Detroit radio host Mildred Gaddis.
In a time of crisis, Gary continues to put in the work to reform our criminal justice system, address the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on African American communities, and protect voting rights.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
Click On Detroit: Sen. Gary Peters hosts online forum on racial justice
- In a virtual campaign event, Sen. Gary Peters (D) touted recent proposals in the Senate on policing reform. Peters was joined by MI NAACP Rev. Wendell Anthony and former Attorney General Eric Holder in the discussion which lasted just over an hour.
- Peters said policing reform is a “long list of issues” but focused heavily on transparency and accountability for officers and police departments including a way to keep track of officers who act improperly so they can’t move from department to department. He also stressed the need for incentives for those who join law enforcement in their communities or those who choose to live in the communities they police.
- “Law enforcement departments will benefit by having folks who grew up in that community people who’ve lived there a long time they know that community,” Peters said.
- All three panelists discussed the intersection of the coronavirus and race, calling for swifter action from the federal government to protect minority communities and essential workers. In Michigan, the majority of essential workers are people of color.
WWMT: Sen. Peters, Former U.S. AG Holder push for police reform, social justice policies
- During a virtual conversation hosted by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters’ re-election campaign, social justice, racial inequities and police reform were all discussed Thursday morning with national and regional leaders.
- Peters has sponsored a plan to create a 14-member National Criminal Justice Commission to complete an 18-month review of the nationwide criminal justice system. Peters has introduced the plan in the past, but it hasn’t gotten approved by Congress yet.
- The legislation would direct the commission to look at federal, state, local and tribal criminal justice systems and issue recommendations for change in oversight, policies, practices and laws to reduce crime and increase public safety.
MIRS: Peters Brings Together Holder, Anthony To Talk About America’s Next Great Moment
- The conversation was organized by U.S. Sen. Gary PETERS (D-Bloomfield Twp.). During the event, speakers described the immediate needs for criminal justice reform.
- “We’ve got police issues we’ve got to deal with. But we have to look at the system in a broad way, including how do we treat folks after they’ve come out of prisons? How do they get back up on their feet? How do they get a second chance (and) how do they have an opportunity to pursue that life?” Peters asked.
- Peters said they need to look at grand juries, the proceeding speed of trials and the overall “long list” of issues needed to be addressed.
- However, he admitted now is the time for action and moving forward as outcries continue for the banning of chokeholds, advancing transparency and commencing independent investigations.
- “Trust is fundamental,” Peters said. “Having an independent investigation puts a fresh set of eyes on what may happen. Otherwise, there is a perception and perhaps reality that it’s the good ole’ boys network that protect their own and we can’t have that.“
Gongwer: Dem Panel: Time For Racial Justice, Law Enforcement Change, Is Now
- Sen. Gary Peters and others on a panel Thursday discussing racial justice said concrete initial steps to promote racial justice and reform law enforcement can be taken now while working to find consensus on larger policy questions to enact major structural changes nationally.
- Joining Mr. Peters (D-Bloomfield Township) on the panel by video conference was former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and the Rev. Wendell Anthony, president of the Detroit branch of the NAACP. The three talked about what can be done immediately to address law enforcement and racial justice and how larger societal inequities can be addressed.
- “But you know what? It doesn’t bend on its own. It only bends when people like us put their hands on that arc and pull it towards justice,” Mr. Holder said. “We as American citizens have to ask ourselves on an individual basis ‘What are you doing? What are you doing to bend that arc’?”
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