The George Floyd inspired protests across the world is now moving from vibrant well attended outdoor protests to indoor interactive deliberations. This indoor move is reflected in actions in town halls, meetings, legislation change, policy shift, and in some cases no clear change.
After the protest in Edmonton, Diversity Magazine has been talking to hundreds of Edmontonians and collecting dozens of suggestions on the way forward. As a product of the protest, two lines of reasoning are evolving in Edmonton; one to DE-FUND the police service, and the other one to RE-STRUCTURE it and make it better.
Those who want to RE-STRUCTURE and make the police better like a group of criminologist, former police commissioner, community leaders, university researchers, and consultants say they have a more realistic and accomplishable goal of fixing the police service with actions that have worked else where from effective community engagement, to training, accountability, diversity and inclusion, review of training manuals to eradicate violent practices, and many more.
Those who favour to DE-FUND the police service led by Black Lives Matter Edmonton Chapter have put out a petition to argue against the increase in Edmonton Police Service funding from 2019-2022 and channel these funds to community organizations.
The obvious question for you today is: What do you think is the best way forward for Edmonton Police Service?
Have a very good day and stay turned to Diversity Flash for June 9, 2020, and a video summary at the end of the day as we sail through a bright sunny day in Edmonton and Calgary.
