HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/16/2021 Item 7, Wade
Wilbanks, Megan
From:
43 AM
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Public Comment for 2/16/21 Meeting
City Council Members,
I am writing to you regarding the events that occurred in June during the social justice protests and the
SLOPD.
First, I asked a friend who was there to recount his pepper spraying experience, and here is what he said: “I
was standing right there in front of the police when they tear gassed the crowd and I can say confidently
that we were fully peaceful and doing nothing to warrant the use of tear gas. It was so dangerous and
unnecessary. Being in that cloud of tear gas was one of the most frightening moments in my life. And we
had to run from it and when we finally got away and onto a side street to regroup, police officer came out
of the bushes to try and chase people down and arrest them. They fully had us surrounded. It was terrifying.
None of that should be an ok thing for them to do and not be held accountable for.”
Seeing this happen over social media and hearing about it in the news filled me with disappointment and
rage. You can't get on a knee to show solidarity with protestors and in the same evening tear gas them when
they inconvenience you. Fighting for justice isn't convenient because convenience does not necessitate
change.
Generations of trauma don't end overnight and it starts here, locally to re-address the way we police the
community. SLO Police should concentrate their efforts on violent crime. Their qualms should not be with
people practicing their right to protest.
I recommend at a minimum, censure for those who participated in the tear gassing of protestors. I
recommend community engagement to build trust. And most of all I recommend the council take actual
action.
Please be a lead in the effort to dismantle racism in our county.
Best,
Sarah Wade
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