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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes July 14, 2020 Page 12 1 Obama's Twenty -First Century Procedural Justice Initiatives to the Department of Justice, the 2 Cops Technical Assistance Program and followed up with a deployment of body cameras. He 3 stated St. Anthony is the only city in American with a population under ten thousand to go 4 through this two-year training. We also confirmed that the City procedures meet the standards of 5 Eight Cannot Wait Campaign. This program has identified eight practices leading to fewer 6 deaths. In 2019 the St. Anthony Police Department reviewed its manual to ensure that 7 Department policies comply with all eight policies. 8 9 Councilmember Jenson stated multiple chants of "F...the Police" and marching on our streets 10 with automatic assault weapons do not reflect the spirit of healing and reconciliation, quite the 11 opposite and this behavior of hatred will not promote further positive reform. Following the 12 rally, his impression is the message of the mural is to be put up for spite and not supporting our 13 goal to end systematic racism. Furthermore, he cannot support this request nor any other request 14 for political statements and advertisements to be placed on City walls and structures. He stated 15 he was open to other avenues for additional reconciliation. 16 17 Mayor Stille indicated there was a person who raised their hand on Zoom. 18 19 Ms. Hawo Kamal, 3021 Silver Lake Road, stated for the gentleman that got up and talked about 20 feelings, for him it may be feelings but for the people of color in St. Anthony, it is their 21 livelihood. She stated for people of color they are not comfortable every single day in St. 22 Anthony. She stated St. Anthony has not done anything given the current situations of people of 23 color. She stated her people are not bitter, they are mad entirely. She stated she supports this 24 and believes it will be a great healing opportunity for St. Anthony. 25 26 Councilmember Webster stated she was quite proud of the community. She received over eighty 27 emails from residents either expressing their support or not supporting the mural. She 28 appreciated how the residents are recognizing the leadership of the young people, like Ms. 29 Solomon. She believed art can heal and supported the idea of a mural, but she cannot support the 30 mural on a publicly owned building. She also supports exploring alternatives. How might we 31 look at this mural as a way of generating conversation. 32 33 Councilmember Walker thought they needed to make a distinction between listening and 34 hearing. Hearing is a very passive ability we have, and listening is very active and intentional. 35 They should not get lost in the rhetoric or some particular actions that occurred in the marching 36 and the language that was used or the men who showed up. They need to focus on the reason 37 why this was done and should not focus on the words but the what it means. Many people are 38 fed up. If we do not have a mural or even one on public property then those who are suggesting 39 or initiating a mural should be partners in the City's decision making in terms of what is done if 40 the mural is not approved rather than the City deciding what occurs. 41 42 Mayor Stille thought maybe they should all work together and figure out what to do. He thought 43 the discussion tonight was inspiring with a lot of thought and a lot of words that ring true. He 44 thanked Semhar Solomon for bringing this forward and told her she was very passionate in 45 which the way she presented herself. He thought the idea of putting a mural on City property 46 makes him not supportive for two significant reasons. He stated this would be a precedent along