July 9, 2021
Last Tuesday, July 6, I joined with local Black Lives Matter leaders and many others to voice our outrage at the recent comments of Assistant Chief of Police John Catone and Public Safety Commissioner Robin Dalton.
On June 28, Assistant Chief Catone and Commissioner Dalton held a press conference to report on what they said was a recent uptick in crime.
But instead of imagining, let’s say, that folks have been cooped up for more than a year because of a pandemic and might have to re-learn some of the skills you need in order to be in a crowded bar and keep your cool, Catone insinuated that the uptick was the result of social justice advocates who have been critical of the police for racially disparate treatment.
Insinuating that local social racial justice advocates are responsible for increased violence in the city is irresponsible and seems of a piece with national far right political rhetoric and fear-mongering about racial justice. It also ignores the real concerns and lived experience of Saratogians.
I can understand how a police officer might find it difficult to hear criticism. Lots of us get defensive when we hear criticism. No one wants to be racist. But for Catone to assert that “we are not a racist police department,” misses the point and, again, ignores the lived experience of Saratogians who are people of color.
The research and work done by the recent task form on police reform appointed by the City Council revealed a pattern of people of color receiving worse treatment than their white neighbors. What we need to address isn’t about individuals who hold racist ideas. It’s about a pattern and a history of behavior. Systemic, institutional racism—white supremacy culture—has shaped all our institutions. In order to move forward into a future where everyone’s worth and dignity are honored, we need to admit that and begin working on reparations.
Catone said that “I will … pull out every single connection my family has made over the last 130 years and I will stop your narrative”—meaning by “narrative” the idea that people of color have received rougher treatment at the hands of city police than white people. This is a classic white fragility response to truth telling. It is also not the job of the police to police our language; it is the job of the police to protect our right to free speech and our civil liberties.
For Catone to say, “You are either with us or you’re not. If you are not, you are part of the problem,” implies that there will be some sort of litmus test applied to people before a police officer will protect or serve them. This is a shocking betrayal of the community’s trust.
It is also alarming that the Public Safety department is proposing to bring in officers from the Saratoga County Sheriff to beef up police presence in the city. These are the same officers largely responsible for firing pepper bullets and tear gas at Black Lives Matter protesters on July 31, 2020, following a “Back the Blue” rally. Bringing in these officers will make many Saratogians feel more threatened and more unsafe rather than the reverse.
I spoke out during the public comment period of the City Council’s July 6 meeting. Lots of people were shocked when the Mayor interrupted me, recessed and then adjourned the meeting, and left the room because some people had vocalized a little ‘um-hm’ in support of my comments. We need to be listening to one another, not closing our ears or turning our backs on one another.
On June 28, Catone said he wanted us all to be “working together,” but in order for us to come together as a community, we must start by agreeing that divisive and incendiary rhetoric such as that on display at Catone and Dalton’s June 28 press conference has no place in our city.
In further response to Catone and Dalton’s press conference and the lack of any apology or indeed response of any kind at all by the City Council, local racial justice leaders are holding a “Take Back the Narrative” event to demand a public apology, accountability, and a public form. The “Take Back the Narrative” event will be in Congress Park at 6pm on Wednesday, July 14.
https://www.facebook.com/events/799774707355233
I hope I will see many UU’s there with me!
Blessings,
Rev. Joe
——Lots of links you can follow to learn more!
For more information on the remarks at the June 28 press conference by Cantone and Dalton, see https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Saratoga-Springs-officials-blame-social-justice-16279720.php and https://dailygazette.com/2021/06/28/saratoga-police-believe-albany-gangs-involved-in-early-morning-fight-that-led-to-stabbing
For a recent Times Union editorial’s perspective, “It’s not safety vs. justice,” see https://www.timesunion.com/opinion/article/Editorial-It-s-not-safety-vs-justice-16288547.php
Times Union columnist Chris Churchill asks, “What’s the matter with Saratoga Springs?” https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Churchill-What-s-the-matter-with-Saratoga-16298854.php
League of Women Voters of Saratoga County has issued a press release also criticizing the Public Safety department for “linking protests and criticism of the police to increases in criminal activity.”https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/League-of-Women-Voters-joins-condemnation-of-16301735.php
July 3 Editorial by the Daily Gazette. “Editorial: Sniping won’t help solve Saratoga Springs’ summer problems.” https://dailygazette.com/2021/07/03/editorial-sniping-wont-help-solve-spa-citys-summer-problems/
Some reports in the wake of the July 6 City Council meeting:
https://dailygazette.com/2021/07/06/blm-demonstrators-demand-apology-from-assistant-police-chief-public-safety-commissioner
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Saratoga-Springs-Mayor-tries-to-remove-public-16298665.php
https://www.wamc.org/post/saratoga-springs-residents-criticize-assistant-chiefs-comments?fbclid=IwAR3cpMrsHMsnAqI_E5V1M3SSssBy_2kPg5gHlB0-ctbFE5u5thSCGczeciI