RFP Staff
♦Looming as a major issue in this fall’s Salisbury city council election is an ongoing record of civil rights violations and police brutality in our city’s minority communities. While a small number of our Salisbury Police Department take part part in civil rights violations and beatings, our city council, city manager’s office, and police department ought to have zero tolerance for this behavior. It is a major pox on the city’s alleged reputation as a “progressive” and forward-thinking city. Our city’s reputation is sullied among civil rights groups both here and around the state. Many clamor in Salisbury for an independent civilian review board.
Our city government claims to be ”open to diversity”, yet it becomes obvious, riding though Salisbury’s neighborhoods, who doesn’t share in the pie. Please notice which neighborhoods possess sidewalks and where the streets go unrepaired. Which neighborhoods lack needed playgrounds. Ever wonder which neighborhoods get the most rapid police response when trouble knocks on the door or kicks it in?
Its glaringly bright and loud that unless you are part of Salisbury’s downtown, its historic district, or the country club, you are a distinct outsider when dealing with city government. The pie is beyond the reach for those dwelling outside the three previously named areas. We’re not telling you anything new if you live in a minority neighborhood, a forcibly annexed neighborhood, or anywhere outside the periphery of downtown, the historic district or the country club. Those three have a stranglehold on our city government. Welcome to the crumbs.
The city of Salisbury was forced to pay hefty legal settlements to minority victims of excessive police force. Felicia Gibson’s case, a clear violation of first amendment civil rights, won on an appeal. What is additionally unsavory about these civil rights violations is that quite a few minority residents fear their protectors and for good reason.
The Rowan Free Press was the first report these issues and break through the media silence here on police civil rights violations and brutality. We urge the current city council to implement an independent civilian review board to protect our citizens from those few who would abuse their badges and bring shame on the Salisbury Police Department. The Rowan Free Press will continue to cover this very important issue as long as it is permitted to last. Civil rights and police brutality are a major issue in the coming fall campaign.
Some previous RFP articles on Salisbury police civil rights issues:
Previous articles on major issues in the upcoming Salisbury City Council campaign:
Featured cartoon by Marina Bare
