GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) — A Green Bay Police Commander and a representative of the Privilege Institute came together Wednesday to have a spirited discussion about race and police in America aimed at bridging the gap between police and the black community.
Dr. Eddie Moore Jr. and Police Commander Kevin Warych spoke at the Green Bay YWCA in a talk entitled “Where We Live: A Black Man and a Policeman Speak”.
“We want to have these conversations because we want to listen,” Commander Warych said. “We want to understand what’s going on in our community… I think people want to understand, people want to know, people need to have that open dialogue.”
The talk comes weeks after George Floyd died in police custody in Minneapolis after an officer knelt down on his neck. That officer, Derek Chauvin, is now facing murder charges. The video of the moments before Floyd’s death has been shared across the internet.
“What really angers me the most? Is how I will never forget what I saw. It’s in my membrane forever,” Dr. Moore said of the video of Floyd’s death. “I don’t know if I was ready to take that with me to my grave.”
Chauvin held his knee to Floyd’s neck for over eight minutes.
“This incident is going to change policing. It brings to light how important it is to have this open dialogue,” Warych said. “To have a black man feel comfortable coming to a police officer and saying ‘hey, I think I’m being judged’.”
In the immediate wake of Floyd’s death came weeks of protests and at times, violence. While Dr. Moore and moderator and YWCA Greater Green Bay CEO Renita Robinson argued that rioting and looting come from a place of anger, Moore did see a need for balance.
“I think we’re gonna be dealing with some real difficult balance between protest, rebellion, and some folks who may just want to throw a brick through the window,” Moore said.
Both speakers cited a need for further community dialog and cooperation between police and the black community. The event was streamed by the YWCA and Green Bay Police Department.
