BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Community members gathered to discuss police reform in Bakersfield Monday evening, with at least one organizer frustrated with the turnout.
“The Community Police Group” met at a church on Brundage Lane where the small group discussed why black people and other minority groups are afraid to be stopped by patrol officers.
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Walter Williams, with the community policing group, said he was not satisfied with how little people showed up to the meeting.
“My voice and my group’s voice is not enough. We need the whole community to come forth. This place should be packed with the black community and people of color here, and Latinos and everything else. And, that’s the problem. As long as they keep sitting home on the couch complaining about it, but you ain’t steppin up to come here and voice your opinion on police reform, we’re going to keep having the same problem.”
The meeting also touched on ways to build better relationships between police and the community.