For Immediate Release
Contact: Danielle Williams, 916-834-9137
October 11, 2016
**** Press Conference****
Policing Commission Chair Pastor Les Simmons Resigns
Commits to advocate for stronger commission and be a bridge builder
Sacramento – The chair of the Sacramento Community Policing Commission, Pastor Les Simmons is resigning from the commission and standing with community to press city council to overhaul the charter of the commission and create one with power to increase transparency and accountability. Pastor Les will be joined by Sacramento ACT, Black Lives Matter and Law Enforcement Accountability Directive who will share their proposal for a transformed policing commission and respond to Council member Carr’s use of force policy. Speakers include: Pastor Les Simmons, Chair of the Sacramento Policing Commission; Mark T. Harris, Esq. and Richard Owen, co-chairs of Law Enforcement Accountability Directive (L.E.A.D.); Tanya Faison, founder of Black Lives Matter Sacramento; Sacramento Area Congregations Together (ACT) leaders, and more.
This coalition of leaders established after the shooting of Joseph Mann by Sacramento PD, and mobilized over 300 community members at city hall on September 13 demanding a policing commission with power and for city council to release the dash cam videos of the Joseph Mann shooting. This press conference takes place two days prior to Mayor Pro Tem discussing his use of force policy and proposal to increase powers of the policing commission at a special city council meeting Thursday, October 13.
Who: Sacramento Area Congregations Together, Black Lives Matter, Law Enforcement Accountability Directive (L.E.A.D.)
When: Today, Tuesday, October 11, 10:30am
Where: For His Glory Church, 2001 Grand Ave
Contact: Danielle Williams, 916-834-9137, danielle@sacact.org