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Newsjock

(11,733 posts) Wed Dec 10, 2014, 12:29 AM Dec 2014

Richmond (Calif.) police chief a prominent participant in protest against police violence

Source: Oakland Tribune

Amid the nationwide tumult over recent instances of police officers using deadly force against unarmed people, Bay Area cities like Berkeley and Oakland have been rived by impassioned protests that have at times turned violent. But a different kind of protest popped up in Richmond on Tuesday, and at the vanguard of the gathering calling for a reduction in police violence in communities of color was an unlikely participant: Richmond's police chief.

"I've never seen anything like it, not in Richmond, not anywhere," said longtime resident Mary Square, who stood on the north side of Macdonald Avenue watching the protesters on the south side of the street. "All these police, and the police chief, holding signs calling for an end to police violence. ... I'm going to tell my kids."

...Police Chief Chris Magnus, who has drawn acclaim for his community-policing approach and helping drive down both crime and use of force by his officers in recent years, was front and center, facing the street while holding a white sign that said "#blacklivesmatter." The photo quickly went viral on social media, the image of the uniformed chief with the popular hashtag a stark contrast to the anti-police sentiment many associate with it.

"I spoke with my command staff, and we agreed it would be nice to convey our commitment to peaceful protest and that black and brown lives do matter," Magnus said after the protest. "And to help bridge the gap that we understand sometimes exists between police and community around certain issues."

Read more: http://www.insidebayarea.com/oakland-tribune/ci_27102218/richmond-police-chief-prominent-participant-local-protest-against

4 replies

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Highlight:

Richmond (Calif.) police chief a prominent participant in protest against police violence (Original Post) Newsjock Dec 2014 OP

To Chief Magnum Dont call me Shirley Dec 2014 #1

Many here looking for community organizing guidance should look to Richmond. Luminous Animal Dec 2014 #2

Wow, very good to know.. thank you, Newsjock.. Props to Chief Chris Magnus! Cha Dec 2014 #3

NICE! I like this! calimary Dec 2014 #4

Dont call me Shirley

(10,998 posts)

1. To Chief Magnum

Reply to Newsjock (Original post)

Wed Dec 10, 2014, 12:32 AM

Dec 2014

Luminous Animal

(27,310 posts)

2. Many here looking for community organizing guidance should look to Richmond.

Reply to Newsjock (Original post)

Wed Dec 10, 2014, 01:01 AM

Dec 2014

It is a small city that was for many years dominated by Chevron. A decade and more has transformed this small city into a progressive powerhouse.

Get off your flat internet asses and organize. All it takes is 2 people and then so on and 10 years later, you've got a city government that supports a great community policing program, a city government that actively develops co-ops. and a city government that can take on a corporate behemoth.

Cha

(297,340 posts)

3. Wow, very good to know.. thank you, Newsjock.. Props to Chief Chris Magnus!

Reply to Newsjock (Original post)

Wed Dec 10, 2014, 01:33 AM

Dec 2014

calimary

(81,335 posts)

4. NICE! I like this!

Reply to Newsjock (Original post)

Wed Dec 10, 2014, 02:21 AM

Dec 2014

I find that nowadays I scan the photos of the "Black Lives Matter" protests and the "I Can't Breathe" protests and more, and look for white faces. And brown faces. And Asian faces. I want to see EVERYBODY represented out there - because this HAS TO be mainstream. This HAS TO affect, and involve ALL of us. Not just African Americans. We all share this affliction and its impacts. We are ALL damaged by it. We are all made less by it. And we ALL need to get over it together. And those of us who have need to SHOW THAT to those who haven't. Especially whites. And make it really obvious. Seems to me it's really the only way for all of us as a nation - to heal.

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