GREENFIELD — Racial Justice Rising, a local racial justice group, is sponsoring a community conversation with the police chief and mayor aimed at building relationships between the community and the police.
The event will take place Saturday, Oct. 1, from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the First Congregational Church, 43 Silver St.
“In light of recent events locally and nationally, the intention of the program is to assure black and brown people in the community that they can expect fair treatment and that they will not be targeted or shot,” Racial Justice Rising organizers Gloria Matlock and Sherrill Hogan said in a news release.
Additional goals of the conversation are to make police aware of the level of fear that black and brown people have; educate the community about what training and ongoing support the police receive on topics such as profiling, cultural competency and racism; and to develop a stronger positive relationship between the community and the police, according to the release.
A series of questions developed by the community before the program will be the basis for the conversation, and there will also be time for general questions.
To reserve free child care, contact Racial Justice Rising at email@racialjusticerising.org with the number and ages of children. Coffee, tea and light snacks will be available.
In addition to free monthly programs, Racial Justice Rising also holds a weekly public vigil for racial justice on the Greenfield Town Common every Saturday from 9 to 10 a.m. The multi-racial group’s activities aim to further the movement for racial justice, heal the racial divide and bring justice for people targeted by racism.