This afternoon, workers put up a banner at Harrisburg city hall that reads, “We Stand United Against Injustice.”
Harrisburg plans to hold a town hall-style meeting, so that residents and officials can dialogue about racial inequality in the city.
The announcement was made on Friday during Mayor Eric Papenfuse’s latest “Community Conversation” held via Facebook Live, during which local officials and other community members discussed the recent Black Lives Matter rallies and changes being made in the city.
Papenfuse and community activist Brenton Lipscomb said that the city will schedule a meeting for Harrisburg residents and officials to speak about racial equality issues. The date and time have not yet been announced.
“There are real changes which are coming,” Papenfuse said.
Lipscomb acknowledged the recent rallies as being successful in getting elected officials’ attention and sparking conversation.
“We aren’t here to tear up the city,” Lipscomb said. “We live here, and we love living here, but we do want to have our voices be heard. We do want these issues to be resolved.”
Harrisburg Young Professionals of Color co-founder Kimeka Campbell expressed a similar sentiment. She explained that, for her, the protests aren’t just about the murders of black people, but about community policing here in Harrisburg.
For activist Cole Goodman, another issue was the way city, state and Capitol police responded differently at the rallies.
“When the Capitol police and state police showed up, it was an absolute atrocity,” Goodman said. “I felt the Harrisburg police department did an exemplary job, but I have a huge bone to pick with the Capitol and state police.”
Goodman said that he attempted to create a barrier between protestors and police. He added that he was pepper sprayed a police officer at the protest.
“I don’t understand pepper spraying people that were trying to protect you,” he said.
Papenfuse said that the city is reviewing police body cam footage from the protests.
Panelists also discussed ways to move forward with racial equality at the local level.
Papenfuse addressed Campaign Zero’s “8 Can’t Wait” project, which seeks to reduce police violence. He said the city explicitly talks about seven of the eight policies in the city’s policing general order. The one not included is a recommendation to order the requirement of police stepping in to stop uses of excessive force by other officers.
Goodman argued that should be made an order.
City Councilwoman Ausha Green noted ways the city is taking action including making use of force policy and reporting available to the public and beginning training coordination between police departments.
“We want to keep the conversation going,” Green said. “We need to make sure we continue to roll out policy.”
For those looking to help further racial justice on an individual level, Campbell suggested working within your sphere of influence, advocating for equitable voicing for Harrisburg neighborhoods and supporting education.
“Now it’s full-steam ahead,” she said. “Now, the question for me is, how do we keep that steam going?”
Harrisburg’s Community Conversations are each Friday at noon on Facebook Live. To watch past conversations, visit their YouTube channel.
