Wednesday, October 4, 5-7pm
Trinity Episcopal Church, 125 E. Broad St. 
In a recent event at the Columbus Metropolian Club Mayor Andrew Ginther said “there is no evidence to support a pervasive issue [with racism] in the Columbus Division of Police.” We believe the first step is admitting you have a problem.

Everyone wants to go home to their families at the end of the day, including officers, but right now there is a crisis in the streets of Columbus. Columbus Police have killed 5 Black men and boys in the past 15 months and brutalized countless more. Most recently, multiple CPD officers were caught on camera brutalizing Timothy Davis. He remains in custody being denied adequate medical care for his injuries.

In an era of alternative facts and executive leadership who refuses tohear the cries of their people we seek a faithful response. We will never bridge the divide by pretending racism doesn't exist and silencing the cries of heartbroken Black families. Join us for a one mile silent march against racism and bigotry stepping off at 5:30pm from Trinity Episcopal Church. 

Mayor Ginther has been listening to big donors but not to low income people and people of color. He is hosting a thousand-dollar-a-plate fundraiser at Strongwater, a fancy restaurant in the Bottoms. We will break the silence by marching in silence, asking the Mayor -- Mark 8:18 Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? 

This event will be peaceful demonstration safe for all who want to participate. We will briefly train on nonviolent direct action before the march. 

Want some real, not alternative facts?
- Less than a quarter of CPD personnel live in a Columbus zip code and only 2 recruits in the last graduating class were Black. 
- In 2016 50% of CPD's initiated traffic stops were Black drivers although they only make up about 25% of the population. 
- Columbus has multiple federal lawsuits pending for discrimination against African American officers and for excessive use of force against African American citizens.
-*High profile Columbus Police killings: Deaunte Bell (25)- 2015; Henry Green (23)-2016; Kawme Patrick (25)- 2016; Tyre King (13)- 2016; Jaron Thomas (36)- 2017; Kareem Ali Nadir Jones (30)- 2017; Columbus Police brutality (recorded on video): DeMarko Anderson (26)- 2017; Timothy Davis (31)- 2017