HomeMy WebLinkAbout6/2/2020 Item Public Comment, SmithHello,
My name is Evelyn-Claire and I am 19 years old. I was raised here in SLO county and my mother used to work for Heidi Harmon. Before Heidi was even elected mayor, I would attend her events
with my family. I consider San Luis Obispo to be a part of who I am.
Having been based here, I have taken part in many Woman’s Marchs and Sit Ins over the years, all of which I have left feeling a great sense of pride for my city and gratitude that it
has allowed me to have an outlet for my voice to be heard. Yesterday, I chose not to attend the protest in downtown SLO because of high-risk family members that I live with; I chose
to do my part from a distance. The idea of violence didn’t even cross my mind because, as I have stated before, I have never felt threatened at a protest in my town before. Imagine
my surprise when I hear about the use of tear-gas and rubber bullets fired from a close distance at a peaceful protestor from one of our own police officers. Imagine how I must feel
after the fact, when I learn about several of my friends getting maced even after staying peaceful. And, worse yet, imagine how I must feel when I learn that all of the gas and bullets
were signed off by our own City Council. I’ve seen the videos, I know these things to be true. I am broken-hearted that a city I used to consider kind and open-minded would allow for
such treatment of its own people. I find myself to be very angry at those who are supposed to keep us safe. I understand that SLO is just in the beginning stages of bouncing back after
great stress brought on by the virus; I want, just as badly as you do, for things to return to normal. I will not, however, weigh that over the safety of my black loved ones. I think
we both agree that in order for SLO to continue to bounce back and for the protestors to continue to make their voices heard, somethings will need to change.
This is what I ask you demand of the SLOPD:
- do not allow the police officers to use rubber bullets on protestors.
- do not allow the police officers to use mace on non-violent protestors.
- do not allow the police officers to cover their badge numbers (as you may have seen has been happening all over America at the moment, specifically in New York and Seattle)
- demand that the police officers arrest only the violent protestors and those vandalizing or damaging property and those looting businesses.
- encourage the SLOPD to reexamine their own privileges and treat the Black Lives Matter protestors the same as the would treat those who participated in the Woman’s March or similar
events.
In edition, I also ask that the SLOPD releases another statement conserning the events of yesterday and include language that does not demonize those who took part in the event. If you
do these things, peace will not be hard to find; we want things to be peaceful just as much as you do and SLO will return to its former glory as we continue to fight this virus as a
community. I understand that things have been getting out of hand around the world, and it doesn’t need to here, so long as we feel that we are heard and understood.
I will leave you with this: I fear for the lives of my black friends. I see how tired and angry they are after so much pain. I cannot believe that the supposed 'peace keepers' from a
city I love so much would treat its people with so much hate. I pray that you chose to use your power and privilege for good, I beg you to do what is right in this time. I wish I could
write my grief of current events into this letter, but because I cannot, I hope that you can understand my side of things. Please keep in contact with me; I want to be in conversation
about this.
Peace and grace to you,
Evelyn-Claire Smith