KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Wednesday, Chief Karianne Thomas’ last day with the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety (KDPS), protests for police accountability continued downtown with a march planned to the KDPS office.
The protest and march is part of a series of twice-weekly peaceful protests downtown in front of the courthouse. Starting in mid-September, participants have been demanding accountability from KDPS in what they described as a series of failures.
That comes after criticism of how KDPS and city officials have handled protests this summer, including a Proud Boys rally that turned violent downtown last month.
“We thought it would be an important statement piece to start our scheduled protest, and then at 7:00, we’re gonna march down to KDPS, and we’re gonna make our stand there,” organizer Noelle Massey told WKZO. “There’s a lot of opportunities to come with this change in leadership, it really is an opportunity for reformation here in Kalamazoo. Some of the things we want to do is reinforce some of those initiatives we’ve already spoken about – accountability, transparency, cultural competency training, diversity training for the department itself.”
She added that they want to send that message to Chief Vernon Coakley, who will be taking over for Thomas.
Protesters call for accountability from the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety downtown on Wednesday, September 30, 2020. (Photo by Jeana Gondek).
“If he really can help heal this community and really protect and serve it in a way that it has not been for decades, then we want to support him in that,” Massey said. “We’re hoping that message will come across. We still have expectations that are unmet, but we do believe in this opportunity for reformation.”
Organizers said they would continue these demonstrations every Wednesday and Saturday through September, though they may continue longer than that if needed. Participants say that they want to work with the department for improvement.
“We’re not anti-police, we’re anti-racist police, I think that’s a very important message,” activist and organizer Quintin Bryant told WKZO. “We’d like police to stand together with us, to fight this head-on.”
Bryant also stressed the importance of voting in the November 3 election to help create changes, citing President Donald Trump’s comments regarding the Proud Boys during a debate with Joe Biden Tuesday night. During that debate, when asked to denounce the group and white supremacy, President Trump said the group should “stand back and stand by.”
“The things that came out of the president’s mouth last night, I think, was very detrimental, in a way, very dangerous,” Bryant said. “Being the history we just went through with the Proud Boys, I think it’s important for all of us to stand together with our city officials so we can fight this all together.”
Organizer Tamara Custard also spoke with WKZO about the march.
“We’re going to continue to be out here whether it’s rain or snow, we’re willing to go to those limits,” Custard said. “If it means that we got to be a little more proactive by not just protesting in front of the courthouse, but marching to your headquarters to send a message, we want change.”
Custard added that the retirement of Thomas will not deter their efforts.
“Today is also the day Karianne Thomas officially is done, so in lieu of that, it’s important for us to still be proactive and send that message to the new leadership,” Custard said. “We’re willing to have those working relationships, but we want it to be genuine, we want it to be the right away, and we’re still gonna continue to be proactive in sending those message. It doesn’t start or end with us, it starts with you guys because you have the power.”
Like Bryant, Custard said voting in the November will be crucial to promote changes.
Protesters prepare to march to the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety downtown on Wednesday, September 30, 2020. (Photo by Jeana Gondek).
“Democracy is at an all time low right now, and we’re on the verge of losing it,” Custard said. “It’s important to keep that mindset, democracy starts with voting, and it starts with the people. We’re out here to spread that message.”
Custard was also holding a sign featuring names of police brutality victims from 2013 to 2020.
“We’re tired of seeing hashtags,” Custard said. “It’s time for democracy to take a change and really start saying that we don’t just support Black Lives Matter, or Black Lives entirely, but we are going to shift that mindset and say that we are going to create the policies that are going to help protect you, as well as get you the equality that you deserve.”
Organizers said the march from the courthouse to KDPS would begin at 7 p.m.
Late Wednesday night, MLive reported that after arriving to the KDPS building, the group chanted for a time before kneeling in silence for those lost to police brutality.
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