_______ Voice and Recommendation    December, 2006 We, the elected Unity Council of the African Community Centers for Unity and Self-Determination/Atlanta, strongly encourage Black leadership around the issues of police misconduct, brutality and killings in Metro Atlanta to seriously weigh the advantages of constructing an independent community-based Civilian Review Board (or some other name). The current tension between the Black Community and police departments in Metro Atlanta challenges Black leadership to responsibly guide us during these critical times. Considering that police misconduct, especially directed at our community is not new and that it is very likely to continue, bold plans must be devised to police (monitor) the police. We must know at this late date that no branch of government can be depended upon to protect the civil and/or human rights of members of our community. This is not to say that we should not hold government accountable, we should; but the clear mirror of history demands that we provide some oversight which is totally controlled by our community. Black leadership, metro wide, should come together to plan and carryout the process of building a permanent institution to monitor police conduct and to push for justice when warranted. Such an institution, with the aid of the eyes and ears of our community should seek to stay on top of questionable police activity anywhere in Metro Atlanta. And where governmental authority cannot or will not provide justice in a timely manner, our Independent Institution should itself do fact-finding, hold hearings and issue reports to the public with results of such findings with recommendations. Leadership should demand significant participation in this process from all segments of our community, including our churches, universities, community groups, elected officials and professional associations (local and national). Our youth must also be involved.  - These killings, at the hands of those entrusted to uphold the law, provide a benchmark test for current leadership. Although it may not be easy to face the fact that we (ourselves) must do what is necessary to protect the vital interest of our community in this way; we must! As a community, we have the resources to organize and fund such an institution. The biggest hurdle is to make the decision to be responsible on behalf of our community and people. Once the decision is firmly made; the necessary resources will begin to flow. - We are often reminded of the "power of a made up mind". We, the elected Unity Council of the African Community Centers for Unity and Self-Determination/Atlanta recommend and strongly encourage that you as an individual or organization do the following in support of this Voice and Recommendation: Join with and support the efforts of our leaders, grassroots and elected, who have courageously taken the lead on these issues. None of us can afford to sit on the sidelines when the very lives of our children and grandparents are being taking from us. Forward and/or take this Voice and Recommendation to leaders you know who are involved with this issue and ask that they consider the idea and spirit of what is written here. We must trust that our leaders will make the tough choices and do what is ultimately in the best interest of our community. We, the elected Unity Council of the African Community Centers for Unity and Self-Determination/Atlanta thank you in advance for your cooperation and support of this voicing. Together we will always win. Unity, Self-Determination and love for our people, Unity Council Members ___________________ Kofi O. Adjei                              Min. Patrick Muhammad Dr. Kweku Andoh                       Bill Price (Ifabemi) Efua Anima                                Wanique Shabazz Peter Marc Brown                       Iya Fulani Sunni-Ali Derrick Boazman                        David "Server" Tavares Thandisizwe Chimurenga             Kenneth Zakee <<< Back