Floyd killing, past racial incidents inspire South Euclid council to pass social justice resolution - cleveland.com

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SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- City Council unanimously approved Monday (June 8) a resolution that asks the federal and state governments to enact social justice policies and practices to ensure that “black Americans have the same equal protections under the law,” and that declares racism a public health crisis.

The resolution specifically states as a reason for its necessity the profiling of Christian Cooper, a birdwatcher in New York City’s Central Park who had the police called on him by a white woman who said he was threatening her after he told her her dog needed to be on a leash in that section of the park, and George Floyd, who was killed while being arrested by a white police officer May 25 in Minneapolis.

It also names Ohio blacks who have died in incidents involving police, including Tamir Rice, John Crawford and Tanisha Anderson.

The resolution goes on to list eight “calls for accountability and equitable practices” that Mayor Georgine Welo and council seek from U.S. and Ohio government leaders.

They include declaring racism a public health crisis; removing discriminatory laws such as the “Stop and Identify” statute; expanding statewide medical provisions to include mental healthcare regarding race; implementing, at minimum, a financial penalty assessment for false calls regarding racial profiling and/or an abusive or unnecessary use of local police agencies; and conducting additional employment equity training.

In addition, the resolution lists requiring an annual accountability analysis of police departments in regard to excessive-use-of-force complaints; implementing a decertification process for officers found to have engaged in egregious actions and behaviors; and mandating that police wear body cameras at all times.

Ward One Councilwoman Ruth Gray sponsored the resolution.

“I believe that God has placed us here, and we’re in a unique position to effect change,” Gray said during the council meeting, held online via Cisco Webex.

The 15-year councilwoman stated that the resolution does not reflect on any actions of the South Euclid Police Department.

“In fact, South Euclid (police) have helped me have a greater realization of what policing is all about," Gray said. "So I appreciate the strides we have made in South Euclid over the past years to be more inclusive and to be more diverse. We’re not perfect as a city, but we’ve done some things to move in that direction.”

Gray said she was speaking on Monday as not only a councilwoman, but “a black wife, a mother, a daughter and a grandmother.”

Over the past week, she said, she has dealt with emotions such as grief, worry, anger and despair -- “feelings I’ve had to live with throughout my life" when situations similar to recent occurrences have taken place.

Speaking of Floyd’s killing, Gray said: “For many blacks, this was not an isolated incident; it was just exposed. The entire world had a chance to see what happens in America over the past 400 years. Therefore, racism, I truly believe, should be looked at as a public health crisis.”

Gray said that black mothers have had a responsibility to teach their children, especially their sons, about what they may encounter if stopped by the police.

“I, as a mother, live with this fear, constantly, that if my sons are pulled over, if they say the wrong thing, if they do the wrong thing, that my child may be the brunt of this,” she said.

"So, we instruct them as to what to do. We instruct them on where their hands need to be, on how to respond to the officer.

“In the black community, we know this. This is a part of our culture.”

Gray said she teamed with 24 other Northeast Ohio councilwomen in drawing up a letter, sent to state officials stating their feelings. The letter was also used as a basis for the resolution’s language.

“I just think this is something we all need to focus on, we all need to be about doing the work of making sure we’re all treated equally, and that we start now to address some of those biases that are real in our community," Gray said.

"And while this letter was written up for state and federal leaders, there is a part that municipalities have to play in this, too.”

Added Welo: “It (Floyd’s killing) was recorded and, for the first time, people saw it live. I know, for me, it was hard to watch. It was very emotional.

"I just feel a piece of legislation like this is the right step and could make for changes, especially coming from the local level going to the state, and then hopefully moving it to the feds.”

Councilman-at-large Marty Gelfand said there is a need for the resolution.

“I have no doubt in my mind that if George Floyd were a white man, a police officer -- who was there to represent the people -- would not have strangled, by knee, that man,” he said. “It’s time to stop this. It’s time to recognize that we’re all equal under the law.

“I’d like to see hearts change because of this (resolution)," Gelfand said. "I don’t know that will happen, but we have to start somewhere, and we can start right here in South Euclid by passing this resolution.”

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