Public encouraged to share ideas on creating a system that emphasizes support rather than imprisonment Columbia, MO, Jan. 2, 2023 -- Race Matters, Friends (RMF) will evaluate one of its core strategies for combatting the police-industrial complex by hosting a Community Bail Fund meeting. The public is invited to attend the open discussion at […]Read More
The recent hot flashes around the (CPRB) are in response to December L. Harmon’s 11-page proposal called New Model Concepts For The Citizen’s Police Review Board (2/22/22). The proposal is in response to SB26, which egregiously limited the board’s ability to do the oversight mission. Overall, the proposal reconceptualizes the oversight infrastructure and structure of […]Read More
The Courthouse of Boone County, Missouri has prominent murals adorning its walls that give an unflattering depiction of BIPOC and women. While conversations may be held as to the historical or artistic relevancy of such work, the primary concern is that these images set and reinforce an insidious tone within the halls of our Courthouse.Read More
This letter addresses a recent issue of some city employees being put on administrative leave. (The narrative below is obviously sourced by city employees.) They are concerned about an allegation, based on a rumor, which maintains certain employees organized and plotted to get a sitting council member to make a motion to hear their grievances […]Read More
Author: Pat Pratt While an investigation is currently underway to determine if the Columbia Police shooting Wednesday of 38-year-old James Sears III was justified under Missouri law, one aspect of it is perfectly clear. His immediate arrest on a drug warrant was far more important to officers than the safety of the public they are […]Read More
The RMF Community Bail Fund is tracking Senate Bill 487 in the General Assembly. Its provisions would prevent judges from releasing defendants on their own recognizance while they wait for trial. It would increase the number of pretrial detainees in the Boone County Jail despite years of efforts to decrease the jail population. It may contradict a 2019 Missouri Supreme Court order designed to limit pretrial detention and bail. Full text of the bill: https://www.senate.mo.gov/21info/pdf-bill/intro/SB487.pdf Read More
We urge Sheriff Carey, Judge Crane, and the 13th Circuit Court Judges to work immediately at releasing our Boone County detainees and limit further actions that would increase the jail population.Read More
Columbia Police Departments' actions, including the disparate racial outcomes related to vehicle stops, is an institutional and organizational problem that leadership has failed to fix.Read More
Last night, Citizens Police Review Board member Alex Hackworth asked Chief Jones about the demographic composition of the CPD force and Chief Jones said he didn't know. It sounded to me like Chief Jones believes the PRETEXT for the Sept 2, 2021 POLICE STOP -- fits a guardian-mindset practice of community-oriented policing AND his July 1 policy change. Read More
Columbia Police Department finds "no wrongdoing" of Violent Crimes Unit's handling of traffic stop where non-violent driver and passenger are cuffed, searched.Read More
This ridiculous conflating of kneeling to demand justice as somehow an offensive gesture to veterans is a bunch of made-up gobbledygook out of white ignorance and fear.Read More
Source: Cyndi Smith Frisby. This blog was copied from a Facebook thread excerpt dated 9/9/2020. Shared with Permission. Confirmation Bias What It Is The tendency to selectively search for, interpret, and recall information that confirms one’s pre-existing beliefs. These beliefs persist and get stronger even when presented with contradicting evidence. Example of Confirmation Bias A […]Read More
With the proposed 2021 City of Columbia budget allocating far less than $1 million to the proposed public safety mental health collaboration between CPD and the county health department, how will the intended outcomes be achieved? Harrington explores the future of community policing in Columbia and calls for unity to establish and maintain a community where everyone feels safe and can thrive.Read More
Our organizations call upon the police to prioritize the arrests of any person(s) who use(s) a vehicle to intimidate or injure protesters - and complete transparency to the public about their response. Read More
https://bit.ly/2MrcXl9. Race Matters Friends is providing a link to our Google Drive for uploading any media - photos, video, audio recordings - associated with the protest activities occurring in Columbia, MORead More
Please feel free to respond to CPS with the concerns for public safety that we hold, irrespective of whether you have children currently attending their system. This is a question for all of us to deliberate upon. Read More
There are inherent conflicts with both Mike Trapp and Fred Parry’s indulgence in throwing the City/County Public Health and Human Services Department under the bus during a crisis as elected officials, ostensibly representing the very agencies undermining public health officials.Read More
I believe the CPS board and their employee Dr. Stiepleman have struggled to be transparent on issues that matter to parents whose children have been marginalized and harmed by their institutional practices.Read More
Traci Wilson-Kleekamp summarized Race Matters, Friends position of ongoing disappointment with Dr. Stiepleman's performance, administrative process, and lack of transparency and accountability.Read More
A confidential survey RMF has created in an effort to proactively respond strategically to what we believe are persistent abuses of children of color and children with special needs. Read More
As racial disparities for discipline are commonly recognized as a reflection of the school-to-prison pipeline, RMF engaged several school administrators and was assisted by the ACLU in requesting records about the CPS’ equity practices.Read More
"This warrant amnesty applies to outstanding warrants from Columbia Municipal Court for anyone facing arrest for failing to appear for traffic and parking tickets or other City of Columbia ordinance violations." Read More
I object to arresting kids on the whims of school officials' use of hearsay and no investigative effort, not to mention zero conflict resolution effort.Read More
Public reactions to events and the protests they sparked have run the gamut from threats on social media to “kill all the blacks” to open approval and support of student protesters’ demands for social justice.Read More
