TAMPA—The City of Tampa citizen’s review board, established on August 28, 2015, will be able to “suggest” policy changes to the Tampa police but it doesn’t protect or defend the African community one bit.
Tampa For Justice, a coalition of organizations and concerned individuals, began pressing for the creation of a citizen’s review board in April 2015.
The push came after Tampa Bay Times reported Tampa cops hit more people with bike tickets than St. Petersburg, Jacksonville, Miami and Orlando—combined— and that 80 percent of those they hit with bicycle tickets are African!
Tampa mayor Robert Francis Buckhorn, Jr. defanged the review board and hijacked its membership by signing an executive order that denies the board subpoena power and dictates that he picks nine of the 11 board members.
Weak, State controlled reforms like Buckhorn’s review board cannot protect or defend African people from police violence and abuse.
African people must protect and defend ourselves by organizing to demand and bring into existence Black Community Control of the Police!
Demand control!
Defeat reforms!
Build Black Community Control of the Police!
Uhuru!
Defeat reforms!
Build Black Community Control of the Police!
Uhuru!
