By Gillian Brooks | Sunday, June 28th 2020
The discussion of systematic racism has been talked about all over the world after the death of George Floyd, more than a month ago. Today that conversation continued between local Liberian Americans and the Linn County Sheriffs Department.
“We are not here to protest, we are only here to understand the police and the ward the community plays,” says Arthur Lavela, Deputy Director for the Eastern Iowa Liberian Association.
Many Liberian Americans call Cedar Rapids their new home, but with moving to a new country, comes a new set of rules.
“We don’t know the rules. As strangers, we don’t know the rules. So the important part to attest today is that with the sheriff here to explain to us how the laws work if a police officer stop me on the street, in the highway, I should be able to conduct myself according to the rules,” says the Director of Eastern Iowa Liberian Association, Harrison Kpartipa.
The association hosted an event today to give their members a chance to ask law enforcement any questions and to eliminate any fear.
“We know the police are our friends and we should be their friends too,” says Lavela.
Linn county Sheriff Brian Gardner’s goal was to educate. He explained what his job entails, opened the room to questions and spoke on instances of police brutality across America.
“Police brutality is still going on because either were hiring the wrong people, were retaining the wrong people or were training people inappropriately because it should not go on.“
Accessibility and transparency were among many topics discussed. Sheriff Gardner stressed that if anyone had any questions, all they have to do is call.
“Tell someone. Tell the chief, tell the sheriff, tell someone who cares,” explained Gardner.
Attendees say that Today’s event was successful with not only education for the Liberian community but building trust between them and local law enforcement.
