The issue of Police Brutality has once again come to the forefront of the news cycle. Although, many people of color (POC) and allies understand that this issue isn't just a once-in-a-blue-moon occurrence, but a problem that has swept the nation for hundreds of years. We know that even though police brutality is something that can affect anyone, it disproportionately affects POC. Many people in our nation have started protesting/ rioting because of all of the pain this fact has caused. We can bicker about what form of protesting MLK Jr. and civil rights activists from the '70s would smile upon but one thing is certain. At some point, people started demanding specific changes. They started to demand protection and equality. Birmingham was apart of this huge change and I believe that we have another opportunity to show the country that Birmingham and surrounding areas are dedicated to protecting its citizens. This isn't just a Birmingham problem. POC need to know when they cross city lines from Birmingham, into Hoover, Vestavia, or Mountain Brook that they will be provided the same care, mercy, humanity, and respect that most of their white citizens are afforded. I'd like to call for police reform in these four cities. I'd like to see training on how to handle situations with people who have mental illnesses( the Ruderman Family Foundation found that around 50% of fatal police shootings are of people with mental illnesses/ disabilities), I'd like to see improved upon de-escalation tactics, more community outreach and whatever else problems each cities respective citizens feel need to be addressed or improved upon. This reform should be a collaborative effort between mental health specialists, each cities police forces, local activists, city councils, mayors, local lawmakers, and whoever else is deemed essential to the reform. We have a duty to each other and all of our fallen who have been hurt and murdered by the systems of this country. Help me ensure that wonger doers in our police stations can be held accountable and help our police officers be more equipped to protect us. Thank you for your time. 

I can be contacted at Dionne.meadows2020@gmail.com