“Events of the past couple of days have given us hope. We celebrate the City’s removal of the Rizzo statue—an emblem of hate, racism, bigotry, and police brutality. Its removal is a symbolic new beginning for everyone who fell under the brutal baton of Rizzo’s police force, the communities who witnessed it, and those who were pained by seeing his legacy celebrated at the center of our government every day. But, just as the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964 did not immediately stop racism and discrimination in America, the removal of this symbol of hate is only the first step towards real justice and peace for communities of color in Philadelphia. We must not miss the opportunity for dialogue, systemic reform, and healing. We applaud the changes that Commissioner Outlaw outlined regarding use of force protocols, and we see them as an important start to the healing process. We appreciate the Commissioner’s responsiveness to conduct that does not reflect good police practice or equal enforcement of the law.

“The PCHR is currently working to create a framework to support greater community dialogue with the Philadelphia Police Department. These dialogues will help to build relationships and trust and provide a greater measure of justice not only for our Black and Brown residents, but for all who interact with our police department. With our collective seven decades of experience dealing with systemic racism, invidious bias, and community conflicts of all kinds, we stand ready to continue this difficult and meaningful work.”