The Cincinnati EnquirerWhites add to debate on policeBy Kristina Goetz, October 19, 2001They talked of living in diverse neighborhoods and of few interactions with blacks.Some expressed an empathy for those who experience things they do not and many wanted the community to take an active role in reducing crime. Some simply wanted peace. About 30 white citizens gathered at Christ Church Cathedral downtown on Thursday night to share ideas on how the community and police can better get along. "If you and I trust each other," said Terry Murray, 52 of Monfort Heights, "I'm not afraid of anything. That's what it comes down to." More than 320 whites in Cincinnati filled out surveys on ways to improve police-community relations. And at Thursday night's meeting the group talked about and ranked a set of goals derived from those surveys. The session and others like it are part of an effort to mediate a federal racial profiling lawsuit filed against the city in March by the American Civil Liberties Union and local black activists. It accuses Cincinnati of decades of discrimination against blacks. Susan Gray of East Walnut Hills led one of the groups. "I spent summers with my grandfather, who was very sexist, very racist," she said. "It was confusing to me as a child and yet it was clear to me, in my gut, that something was wrong." She challenged his thinking and ultimately became a diversity consultant to help others work through the kinds of problems she was never allowed to voice. Groups of religious and social service leaders, youths, African-Americans and city employees have already had sessions. Three more groups will have similar programs next month: other minorities, business leaders and police officers. Once this process is complete, group representatives will meet again to debate a single set of goals, which will eventually become part of the unprecedented settlement agreement. top Back next |