On Thursday, September 24th more than 130 residents of Fall River, New Bedford, and surrounding towns met to put forward proposals on police reforms for racial justice and more effective community policing. The theme of the meeting, organized by United Interfaith Action (UIA) and New Bedford NAACP, was from “Protest to Policy to Power” for our communities.
Fall River Police Chief Jeffrey Cardoza made several commitments, and we thank him for his presence and community engagement.
However, UIA and New Bedford NAACP were disappointed that New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell, Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan, and New Bedford Police Chief Joseph Cordeiro did not attend. UIA and New Bedford NAACP are nevertheless determined to engage them to meet on these crucial issues for our cities. Many people at the meeting last night emailed the officials asking why they were not present and requesting to meet.
Proposals were made in areas to strengthen public safety and to make Police Departments as good as we need them to be for our entire community. The four areas discussed were: Community Accountability and Representation, Demilitarization, Re-Envisioning Policing, and Re-Investment in our communities.
Regarding New Bedford’s notable absence, Mayor Mitchell stated that he would participate in the larger, community meeting if it involved only New Bedford officials, and he would not participate if it involved both cities. The reason Mitchell gave was that New Bedford and Fall River are two different cities, with different sets of challenges and different sets of solutions.
Meeting organizers disagreed with his decision and continued to organize the meeting as planned, with the joint-city membership coming together to address racial equity and police reform regionally. We had invited the Mayors and Police Chiefs of Fall River and New Bedford. Without the Mayors’ participation, the community action meeting was structured around the two cities’ police chiefs.
Chief Cordeiro had committed to attend the joint-city meeting, but on Monday prior to the meeting confirmed that he had re-considered and would not be attending if it included both cities. He said he was willing to meet and was open to community engagement but, echoing the Mayor, only if it involved a focus on New Bedford.
Click on the slide below to view a recording of the Zoom meeting. Text your name to 774-718-2028 to stay in touch with the meeting organizers on police issues. And feel free to leave a comment about Mayor Mitchell’s decision to not engage with the public by clicking on this email link.
Finally, don’t forget to complete your census form and register to vote!
