The ETSU Black Affairs Association’s “Unapologetically Black” series presented a discussion panel on Black Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter via Zoom on Feb. 22.
Black Affairs Association President Brookale Anderson said “Unapologetically Black” is a month-long series of events hosted to celebrate Black History Month.
The event was moderated by Alona Norwood, a committee organizer with the grassroots organization New Generation Freedom Fighters in Johnson City, and a Young Leaders For Social Change fellow.
Norwood presented a series of questions on various topics regarding race relations and social justice to a panel that consisted of Black Lives Matter activists Trevor King and Amyre Cain, Chief of Johnson City Police Department Karl Turner and Chief of ETSU Public Safety Carlos Gracia.
The opening question compared the Black Lives Matter movement and the Blue Lives Matter counter-movement.
“Black Lives Matter is fighting for more than just our lives,” said Cain, who is an ETSU student. “It’s fighting for our culture, it’s fighting for our people.”
The discussion covered a wide range of topics, from the incident on ETSU’s campus involving a man wearing a gorilla mask taunting peaceful Black Lives Matter protesters with bananas to the umbrella of systemic racism.
“Black people were never meant to be citizens in America,” said King. “They had to make laws to do it.”
Most of the discussion was focused on education and improvement within the local community.
“Something of this nature, where you get together and you have dialogue is certainly very beneficial,” said Turner. “Because until you build relationships with people, you don’t know those people.”
“What Chief Turner said about having the conversations, that is the key right now, I think,” said King. “That’s what it’s gonna take to turn around our generation.”
After the panel discussion, a Q&A session opened with questions submitted by the audience.
“That I’m aware of, not in my 29 years [with the police department], have we had an African-American female police officer,” said Turner, when asked about police involvement in local communities.
Turner said he is more than open to the idea, though.
“This is 2021 and we want a diverse workforce,” said Turner. “And that workforce should be reflective of the community that it serves.”
The webinar ended with Chief Gracia extending an invite to King and Cain.
“I’d love to sit down with you guys as we continue to work with our department and make improvements,” said Gracia. “I want your input.”
