Our community has rightfully been concerned since the viral video of 2 Charleston police officers using what many of us view as excessive force on a mentally ill woman. We expect our community members to be treated with dignity and compassion. Our community has been vocal, volunteered, shared resources, and shown up in countless other ways to make sure incidents like this do not be become a norm. Today we are asking our local officials to commit to the protection of black women. Today we are calling on our local officials to join our efforts to keep our communities safe for all.

The following requests are to help keep our communities safe. These requests help us be proactive and allow opportunity for transparency. Please ask your local officials to support the following:

• Charleston Police Department publicly agreed upon. 
  -Release monthly data on arrest demographics with renewed criteria requirements
  Annual coalition-led anti-racism training for all officers from Call to Action for Racial Equality
• Charleston Police Department review and revise their ‘use of force policy’ up to community approved standards. Mayor Amy Goodwin review Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP) use of force recommendations with community members. 
• All Charleston police officer be equipped with functioning body camera on all shifts. Policy that requires all officers interacting with civilians be equipped with a function body camera at all times.
• Create a mental health intervention team that is made up of mental health professionals, social/case workers, and community members. 
• Support a citizen review board with authority to review police activities and discipline officers (including subpoena authority and firing authority).

Sponsored by Healthy Kids and Families Coalition, Young WV, Call to Action for Racial Equality, American Friends Service Committee, NAACP, American Civil Liberties Union WV & community.