Statement on Rogue Valley Policing Dialogue

On Monday evening, July 13, 2020, ORD2 Indivisible organized a panel discussion titled “Policing in the Valley: Re-Imaging Police Work During a Time of Black Lives Matter.” The panel included  Ashland Police Chief Tighe O’Meara, Medford Police Chief Scott Clauson, Central Point Police Chief Kris Allison, Jackson County Sheriff Nate Sickler and moderated by Senator Jeff Golden. This was the second of a series of panel discussions that have been organized in response to the death of George Floyd at the hands of police on May 25, 2020, as our communities attempt to grapple  with the racial injustice in policing in Southern Oregon.

Here is the Black Southern Oregon community members’ statement about the dialogue that took place:

1. It’s clear that law enforcement agencies in the Rogue Valley do not understand what systemic racism is, nor how it operates. The police representatives acknowledge that systemic racism is real, yet refute that it could possibly exist here in Southern Oregon. The existence of racism is not debatable.
2. Racism, especially anti-Black racism, exists here in the Valley.  Based on the experiences of Black people here, Rogue Valley law enforcement frequently engages with our communities in ways that are driven by race and racist assumptions. These engagements have created harm and fear in our communities that we do not deserve and no longer accept. To assert otherwise invalidates  the very real, lived experiences of Black people living in Southern Oregon.
3. There needs to be a process for Black community members to have the opportunity to inform policy reforms that decision-makers are advancing on our behalf. To hold BIPOC space means that Black people are not only present, but that there is a clear centering of Black people, leadership, and representation that goes beyond the tokenization of Black community members who hold leadership roles at  local organizations, or who happen to do DEI work. More than 3,000 Black people live in Southern Oregon.
4. The systemic impact of racism and the myriad ways it is experienced in the Black community of Southern Oregon were ultimately not addressed during this dialogue. We are disappointed by this squandered opportunity.
5. We as a community are very much interested in seeing continued conversation between the community and police, but some community members are hesitant to speak out against police due to fears of retaliation. In acknowledgment that this dialogue needs to happen, several panel members agreed to participate in a forum that will be organized by and for Black community members. Given that honest and open dialogue is necessary for us to move forward as a community, we are asking for assurances that community members who participate will  not be subject to retaliatory actions from law enforcement.

It is our hope that we can work towards solutions that create a sense of safety for everyone living in the Valley, but for that to happen, the Black people living here must be included. We look forward to this continued effort.

Sincerely,

Black Residents of Southern Oregon