On October 5, Antioch Mayor Pro Tem Tamisha Torres-Walker spoke at the United Nations for the 54th regular session of the Human Rights Council. The topic was discussing the US policing system and its impact on Black Americans.
Speakers were given 90-seconds to speak on various drivers, root drivers, human rights impacts on religious hatred, contributing to incitement to discrimination of facility or violence.
- ID: HC oral update on Religious Hatred (Cont’d)
- Enhanced ID: Expert Mechanism on Law Enforcement
- ID: WG on People of African Descent
Here was her commentary:
“Thank you, Mr. President, I was encouraged to see solutions to police corruption and use of force driven by committee engagement stated promptly in the OHCHR Reports. Civilian oversight in law enforcement is a critical and necessary mechanism that plays a vital role in ensuring transparency and accountability and protection of civil rights as stated in the report.
I hail from Antioch, CA which is the second most diverse city in the Bay Area with a population of over 115,000 with 20.2% of the population identifying as African American. We have a police department with more than 80% of our sworn and non-sworn officers under federal and state investigation for civil rights, use of force and other violations of public trust.
Oversight serves as checks and balance and has an ability to promote sustainable solutions to public safety that are not simply alternatives to policing but have a higher success rate of preventing harm and crime in our communities. Community based solutions to public safety and protecting the rights of black Americans should be a priority, not over policing and hyper surveillance.”
The president then cut off Torres-Walker as her time had expired as she was discussing the City of Los Angeles police budget of $3.2 billion budget.
To watch the video: click here (2 hr 4 min mark)
