Lexington’s Black faith leaders demand police, city and University of Kentucky do more
More than a month after Lexington faith leaders demanded more contracts for Black-owned businesses and police reforms, they gathered again to press for action on body cameras, officer discipline and diversity at the University of Kentucky.
The Black leaders spoke out Thursday, saying steps have been made in the right direction, but not enough. The group was specifically concerned that it hadn’t met with Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers yet. The demands were hand-delivered to Weathers in a letter on June 4.
“We have heard responses from the chief, but a formal written response and action steps from the chief we have not heard,” said Rev. Keith Tyler from Antioch Missionary Baptist Church.
Lexington police Sgt. Donnell Gordon said Weathers scheduled a meeting with the group on June 25, but the group canceled. The meeting was rescheduled for June 30, but Weathers canceled due to another meeting.
“The meeting has not taken place due to other scheduled meetings and scheduled time off,” Gordon said. “The chief still plans to meet with the group.”
Rev. David Peoples said the earliest they hope to get a meeting with the chief is “yesterday.”
After the reassignment and retirement of former Lexington police chaplain Donovan Stewart, the group of Black faith leaders expanded their demands for police and the city government, asking Weathers, Mayor Linda Gorton and members of city council to increase the use of body-worn cameras and and properly enforce camera policies. About 170 sworn officers do not have cameras.
“Incidents of apparent police wrongdoing are accompanied by the realization that police body cameras were not active during periods in question,” said Rev. Nathl Moore, a pastor at First African Baptist Church.
The group was upset that Stewart did not face any repercussions. In a federal lawsuit, Stewart was accused of punching an autistic Black teenage boy while he was restrained at the Fayette Mall in February 2019. Stewart has filed suit against protesters over claims that he was a white supremacist.
Moore said Stewart “speaks to the obvious need to assess police misconduct.”
The group has previously called on the city to implement a citizens review board that would have a say in the disciplinary process for officers involved in alleged abuse of force altercations.
Gorton has since created an accountability review committee, a post-disciplinary action police review panel that will include citizens.
“This act on the part of the mayor does not address our demand for an independent, adequately diverse citizen review board to be utilized during the police disciplinary process,” Moore said.
Moore said the group realizes that state laws and the police collective bargaining agreement are roadblocks to creating a citizens review board, but he said an immediate fix would be to add “community representation” to Lexington police’s Public Integrity Unit.
Moore and the rest of the group also called on the city to permanently ban no-knock warrants. The group had previously asked for the ban after Breonna Taylor was shot and killed by police who were serving a no-knock warrant in Louisville.
The group of Black faith leaders was also concerned about diversity at the University of Kentucky.
The group said UK needed to fill its open chief of staff and vice president positions with candidates “that have demonstrated the capabilities to help the university address its economic, employment and academic racial disparities in an unprecedented manner.”
“It is time for UK to exhaust all options in pursuit of highly qualified minority candidates for the position of chief of staff,” Moore said.
Rev. Dr. C.B. Akins from First Baptist Church Bracktown said the responsibility falls on President Eli Capilouto to further diversify the university.
“Nobody at the University of Kentucky is going to take diversity seriously until the president takes it seriously,” Akins said. “When you look at his inner staff — he says he values diversity, but look at his inner circle and you make the decision. The video is not agreeing with the audio, and it’s time that changes.”
In a statement, UK said last year it committed to diverse candidate pools for all senior positions. That decision was the result of ongoing conversations with Black student leaders.
“Without question, we still have much work to do,” UK spokesman Jay Blanton said. “There is a need for urgent and thoughtful action.” Blanton also said it’s important not to discount the strides UK has made.
UK has been responsible for 80 percent of the growth in Black and African-American students among all colleges and universities in Kentucky since 2011, Blanton said.
UK has received more than 800 nominations from around campus to participate in initiatives to address race and disparity issues at the direction of Capilouto and with the backing of the Board of Trustees, Blanton said.
The university has also increased the Parker Scholarships by nearly $6 million since 2011, Blanton said, and diversity factors into the award. UK had record graduation rates for underrepresented minorities and low-income students last year, Blanton said.
Blanton said that UK “values Dr. Akins as an outstanding and dedicated community leader and former member of our board.” He said university leaders look forward to continuing to work with him and others.
The faith leaders have previously called on UK, along with the city, to impose a mandatory minimum of business and vendor contracts awarded to minority businesses.
Lexington does have a minimum quota of 10 percent, and the city doubled that this year, but most of the contracts went to businesses owned by white women or veterans, which are included in the “minority-owned” counts.
Less than 1 percent of the contracts went to Black-owned firms, city data showed.
“This is both shameful and unconscionable,” Moore said. “Yet, this is where the city, the University of Kentucky, Fayette County Public Schools and the business sector can make a real difference in the trajectory of our community if they are serious about bringing racial equity.”
The group is now calling on the city of Lexington to reward at least 15 percent of its contracts to “racial minority-owned businesses.”
The group said it will continue to advocate for racial justice change even though the faith leaders are frustrated at little progress. .
“We recognize the fact that this is not a sprint, this is a marathon,” said Rev. Willis Polk from Imani Missionary Baptist Church. “We have a lot of work to do. One thing that requires, well it’s a couple things. One is patience, the other one is wisdom. It’s a whole lot of negotiation, so would we like to see more accomplished? Sure.
“We’re determined we’re going to stay the course.”
This story was originally published July 16, 2020 at 3:30 PM.