HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/16/2021 Item 7, Perinich
Wilbanks, Megan
From:Hannah Perinich <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:City Council Meeting 2/16
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Hello San Luis Obispo City Council,
My name is Hannah Perinich and I’m writing to you with regards to the 2/16 City Council meeting earlier this evening. I
didn’t get a chance to make a public comment, so I’m writing to you with an email comment.
In regards to the Black Lives Matter event that ended in tear gas last June, I must not remain silent in the injustice of
what occurred. I was present on that day, and disgusted to watch a peaceful protest become violent because of police
officers. Their use of tear gas and rubber bullets was excessive to say the least, especially because the Black Lives Matter
protest was peaceful. SLOPD officers greatly outnumbered protesters that day, and their use of force against the
protestors caused damage both physically and emotionally. Especially for Black and Indigenous People of Color, the
SLOPD’s brutal force was a distinct example of the police brutality that traumatizes those very individuals and their
families. This use of force is unacceptable and shameful.
Additionally, I find SLOPD’s efforts in conducting an investigation into their own organization to be ineffective. SLOPD
should not hold responsibility for conducting an investigation against themselves, as they will continuously justify their
excessive use of force. Though their investigation concludes that their use of rubber bullets and tear gas was justified, I
argue that this conclusion is inaccurate due to conflict of interest. A true, thorough investigation of the event by a third
party is a necessary step that the City should take in demanding accountability for the officers' actions. Until this occurs,
no real conclusion can be determined by the SLOPD’s unreliable investigation alone.
Lastly, I implore you to hold yourselves accountable to the homeless population in SLO County. Through my mutual aid
work, I can see how limited our county’s resources are for homeless individuals. Following the guidelines of Austin,
Texas, I believe that San Luis Obispo should buy out hotel rooms and provide a stay for homeless individuals. Although
this isn’t a long term solution, it’s a good start to creating a long-term program more suitable for homeless people’s
needs.
Thank you for your time, and I hope to see improvements on these topics in the future.
Sincerely,
Hannah Perinich
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