<p dir="ltr">I wanted to jump into this conversation to give a heads up that I've been working with a few council members from neighboring cities to come up with a constructive way to discuss the recent tragedies our country has faced. I want to ensure the conversation is informative, constructive and solution-oriented. I also want to make certain that it enables everyone with varying opinions and experiences to feel comfortable with sharing their thoughts.</p>
<p dir="ltr">These conversations are often uncomfortable for some of us, but I'm glad we have started the discussion. Please stay tuned for more details on the upcoming event.</p>
<p dir="ltr">_________________________________<br>
Councilwoman Marsha Dixon<br>
Phone: (301) 531-4230 <br>
website: <a href="http://www.marsha4ward1.com">www.marsha4ward1.com</a> | Twitter: @marsha4ward1 | Facebook: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/marsha4ward1">www.facebook.com/marsha4ward1</a><br></p>
<p dir="ltr">Sent from my Android. Please excuse my brevity and any typos.</p>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Jul 12, 2016 2:29 PM, "Bruce Wernek" <<a href="mailto:bruce.wernek@verizon.net">bruce.wernek@verizon.net</a>> wrote:<br type="attribution"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div style="FONT-FAMILY:Arial;COLOR:#000000;FONT-SIZE:12px"><div>Catarina<br><br>I watched the videos, but did the media show them in their entirety? Were they complete? I can't say. In either circumstance, I cannot pass judgement because I'm sure a lot more happened than what the media can air in ~1-2 minutes.<br><br>I'll prefer to reserve judgement for a judge and jury because I believe in America and the American way. I trust they will make the right decision and I will be satisfied with that decision whatever it may be. Until then I'll keep my opinions to myself. The alternative is basically a "lynch mob". That's about where we are now as a nation. It's a disgrace and a disservice to the law enforcement community. They risk their lives to protect all of us. The least I can do is give them the benefit of the doubt. Apparently, you feel otherwise.<br><br>Likewise, I don't believe anything I could say or facts I could present would enlighten you. Good luck with that.<br><br>Bruce <br></div><div> </div><div> </div><div style="border-top:1px solid #bcbcbc;margin:5px 0px"></div><span style="font-size:12;font-family:arial;color:#000000">On 07/12/16, <span>Catarina<<a href="mailto:chatareena@gmail.com" target="_blank">chatareena@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:</span><div> </div><div style="font-size:12;font-family:arial;color:#000000"><div>If you watched the videos and still need enlightening, especially considering the racism and violence that has been committed against people of color, then i dont believe anything we could say would enlighten you. </div><div>I do believe getting together as a community and talking about it might help though.<br><br>Sent from my iPhone</div><div><br>On Jul 12, 2016, at 1:34 PM, Bruce Wernek <<a href="mailto:bruce.wernek@verizon.net" target="_blank">bruce.wernek@verizon.net</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><div style="FONT-FAMILY:Arial;COLOR:#000000;FONT-SIZE:12px"><div> Alison<br><br>Thought you might like this. <br><br><a href="http://www.dailywire.com/news/7264/5-statistics-you-need-know-about-cops-killing-aaron-bandler" target="_blank">http://www.dailywire.com/news/7264/5-statistics-you-need-know-about-cops-killing-aaron-bandler</a><br><br>I can't pass judgement on the "murders" in Louisiana and Minnesota yet since I don't have any idea what happened other than cell phone videos. Apparently, you do. Could you enlighten us?<br><br>Bruce<br></div><div> </div><div> </div><div style="border-top:1px solid #bcbcbc;margin:5px 0px"></div><span style="font-size:12;font-family:arial;color:#000000">On 07/12/16, <span>Al Spain<<a href="mailto:alisonspain@gmail.com" target="_blank">alisonspain@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:</span><div> </div><div style="font-size:12;font-family:arial;color:#000000"><div dir="ltr">Heather -<br><br>Thank you for the invitation to dialogue and your leadership in our community. The murders last week, in Lousiana, Minnesota, and Dallas, have been beyond heartbreaking.<br><br>Affirming that Black Lives Matter in no way discounts that other lives do not matter, rather, it acknowledges the reality that "the probability of being {black, unarmed, and shot by police} is about 3.49 times the probability of being {white, unarmed, and shot by police} on average.<br>"<a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/articleid=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0141854" target="_blank">http://journals.plos.org/plosone/articleid=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0141854</a><br><br>Clearly, some in our community are not interested in having this dialogue, but many more of us are and will not be deterred by the Guiliani's of the world. <div><br></div><div>My experience with the Riverdale Police and their community policing has been largely positive. I am interested in learning more about their outreach efforts, as well as the experience of others in the community. Riverdale's strength is in its cultural and economic diversity, and its small town in the big city feel. Perhaps we could be a model for other communities by working together to evaluate the present state of affairs and create a strategic plan for a stronger and safer future for all. <div><br></div><div>From the article you referenced for parents, what really stood out for me was this:<br><br><font color="#0000ff">"As Dr. Brittany Cooper writes: “White people should recognize that the best way to be good allies is to go work among their own people (white people) to create more allies. Too frequently, white allies think we are asking them to come into our communities to affirm our account of racist acts and structures. What we are really asking is for them to 1) affirm that account boldly among other white people; and 2) use their privilege to confront racial injustices when they see them happening, whether in the grocery store or the boardroom.”<br></font><br>As the mother of a white son, I know that I will not need to have the same "Talk" with my son that my black friends and neighbors will have with their sons. That begs the question, what kind of talks should I be having with my white son? I look forward to further opportunities to dialogue and act. I would be happy to host and create a child-friendly space so that parents can participate. </div><div><br></div><div>Sincerely,</div><div>Alison Spain</div><div>Tuckerman St. </div><div><br></div><div>Please excuse all typos<br><br><br></div></div></div><br><hr size="1"><br>_______________________________________________<br>TownTalk mailing list<br>To post to the list, send mail to <a href="mailto:TownTalk@riverdale-park.org" target="_blank">TownTalk@riverdale-park.org</a><br><a href="mailto:TownTalk-request@riverdale-park.org" target="_blank">TownTalk-request@riverdale-park.org</a> is for automated subscription processing only<br><a href="http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk" target="_blank">http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk</a><br><br>For more information about Riverdale Park, visit <a href="http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info" target="_blank">http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info</a><br></div></div></div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div><span>_______________________________________________</span><br><span>TownTalk mailing list</span><br><span>To post to the list, send mail to <a href="mailto:TownTalk@riverdale-park.org" target="_blank">TownTalk@riverdale-park.org</a></span><br><span><a href="mailto:TownTalk-request@riverdale-park.org" target="_blank">TownTalk-request@riverdale-park.org</a> is for automated subscription processing only</span><br><span><a href="http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk" target="_blank">http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk</a></span><br><span></span><br><span>For more information about Riverdale Park, visit <a href="http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info" target="_blank">http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info</a></span><br></div></blockquote></div></div>
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