KRDO hosts Community Conversation on race relations
KRDO Newschannel 13 hosted a special “Community Conversation” during Friday’s 6:00 newscast, bringing together leaders with a variety of backgrounds and expertise to discuss the recent events in Dallas, Louisiana, and Minnesota, and how to move forward.
The panel represented all sides, a county commissioner, a former sheriff, a pastor from a predominantly black church, a member of the Black Lives Matter movement, and member of the public who submitted questions and comments online.
The focus was answering some of the nation’s most pressing questions, like what could have compelled a former soldier with no criminal history to suddenly turn against his own police department in such a violent way, and how the nation moves forward.
Dr. Margaret Redmond of First A.M.E. Church in Pueblo said it likely with that shooter’s mentality that is shared among many African Americans.
“For the Black Lives Matter movement, they’re not saying that all lives don’t matter. Of course every life is valuable to God. But right now what we’re feeling in our communities is that our lives matter less,” explained Redmond.
That mentality boiled over in Dallas, after so many recent deaths as a result of police action or inaction.
Retired El Paso County Sheriff John Anderson admitted law enforcement agencies are in part to blame.
“You don’t police a community. You police WITH a community. And I think that’s one of the things that missing in many of these communities. The community doesn’t seem to be engaged in policing, and we need to address that. We need a diverse workforce that’s reflective of that community.
But even with more racial sensitivity training and body cameras in place across the country, college student and Black Lives Matter member Kamau Waset says the next generation is worried.
When asked by James Jarman what he sees in the future, he responded, “A bitter fight. A fight not against white people, but against a system that continues to value white people over all other lives. I worry about my kids, and I don’t even have kids yet. I’m 21 years old, and I’m already worried for them.”
Click here to watch the entire segment or join the conversation online.
