After Worcester Forum Cancelled, Activists Have Plenty To Say
Friday, April 20, 2012
Worcester Police Chief Gary Gemme
“I hope it happens very soon,” Ravi Perry, who is also a professor at Clark University, said. “A conversation like this should have happened a decade ago.”
Not even an incident involving police and a young teen last year could get it started. That’s when police arrested 14-year-old David Russo and charged him with assault and battery on an officer and disturbing the peace. Those charges were ultimately dropped and Russo’s mother claimed police should have been aware of her son’s pre-existing health issues, which include multiple learning disabilities. Officers were accused of racial profiling, something the department vehemently denied.
Fast forward to earlier this month when about 50 protesters rallied outside City Hall, in the aftermath of the Florida shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, which revived long simmering tensions in this community. One day later, a post on the city Web site announced a forum sponsored by the Worcester Clergy and Police Community Partnership (WCPCP) to be held April 19 at Claremont Academy. Discussion would include, among other things, the interaction between police and residents, racial profiling and gun violence. This year has started out with a number of shootings, something that has concerned police.
On Thursday afternoon, however, the police department posted an announcement on its Web site posted that the forum had been cancelled, because Police Chief Gary Gemme was unable to attend. The news led to much speculation as to why Gemme wouldn’t be there, but neither the police department nor City Manager Michael O’Brien released any further details.
One of the organizers of the forum said it is important the event be rescheduled as soon as possible. That could happen as early as Monday, when the WCPCP holds its monthly meeting at the police station.
“I’ve already requested that be included on the agenda, the rescheduling of this forum,” said Christian Community Church Rev. Jose Encarnacion, one of the founders of the WCPCP. “It will be my personal goal that it gets rescheduled.”
The WCPCP was established about seven to eight years ago, according to Encarnacion, and is comprised of several area clergy members and police representatives.
Encarnacion lamented the wording of the cancellation notice on the police Web site, because in his mind it was merely a postponement. Still, a new date had not immediately been set. One thing is crystal clear: If and when it does take place, those behind the forum want as many city officials as possible to attend. Gemme’s participation, in particular, is key.
“We’re all for the community being heard, their concerns being tended to,” he said. “But there is an accountability piece. (Gemme’s) presence was necessary. That’s a high priority for us. We want the chief there. I believe the dialogue is needed, but it was necessary for all parties to be there.”
Encarnacion’s wife and City Councilor Sarai Rivera, who is also an ordained minister, echoed her husband’s concerns about the cancellation.
“It’s really unfortunate that it’s postponed,” she said. “We’ll have a new date relatively quickly.”
Rivera said she spoke with City Manager Michael O’Brien. He was going to attend the forum, she said, as were most of the city councilors. O’Brien was working to help reschedule the forum, she said. The city manager could not immediately be reached for comment. His spokesperson, Christina Andreoli, would only confirm that O’Brien had planned on attending the forum.
Perry hopes the forum is rescheduled and that it isn’t just a one-time thing. He’d like to see it taken further, with the city establishing a community relations program.
“Most cities Worcester’s size have something similar to that,” Perry said. “That Worcester does not is problematic.”
While expressing excitement over the possibility of a community forum, he said the fact that it took so long, and that it was done only after a violent incident, is troubling.
“I hope it’s not just a forum,” said Perry. “Too often we don’t have substantive results. I hope this will lead to regular sessions and that they won’t just be a reaction to incidents. They need to be proactive. Worcester has a long way to go to bridging relationships.”
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