On Tuesday night, the City Council in Asheville, North Carolina finally approved the removal of all statues that have been a product of slavery in addition to establishing different ways to help the Black community. The Council also apologized to their Black residents for not acting sooner.
What We Know:
- The City Council voted unanimously in favor of the solution on Tuesday along with a statement that said the following:
“Black people have been unjustly targeted by law enforcement and criminal justice procedures, incarcerated at disproportionate rates and subsequently excluded from full participation in the benefits of citizenship that include voting, employment, housing and health care.”
- The sudden decision comes after backlash due to police brutality that has claimed the lives of many members of the community of color. The recent deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor have caused the people to demand change. Many, took to the streets to peacefully protests and others demanded statues of historic figures be removed due to their involvement in slavery.
- However, the City Council’s decision was not very well welcomed by the members of the community. Councilman Keith Young, who is one of the two Black council members, stated that “it is simply not enough to remove statues” and still have the alarming problem of systemic racism alive in America.
- Asheville Council stated that they will carry out more urban renewal programs and establish a process to develop “short, medium and long term recommendation to specifically address the creation of generational wealth and to boost economic mobility for the Black community”. This simply means that there will be more help regarding minority homeownership and affordable housing as well as closing the gap in health care, education, and pay.
Many members of the community are hoping that people of power do “what is right” and join their fight against systemic racism.
