Hundreds Attend Town Hall Meeting on Race and Police

CHARLOTTE, N.C.–Hundreds packed the Mayfield Memorial Missionary Baptist church Tuesday night to come up with a plan of action to unite police and the black community.

Pastor Charles Thompson of Shiloh Baptist church said, “I think there needs to be better transparency and accountability.”

Pastor Thompson is hoping to see his input on how to prevent black men from dying at the hands of police put into policy.

“I would love to see the body cameras, I know there’s expense with that… but that protects both the citizen and officers,” says Pastor Thompson.

Hundreds gathered at this town hall meeting in north Charlotte to create a plan of action.

Participants were allowed to give their input and ask questions.

Ann Alford said, “I know what to do when we go to the airport to check in at a TSA checkpoint, and we know that protocol is followed at every airport in the country. Why can’t we have a standard protocol for traffic stops?”

Panelists included city and religious leaders, along with CMPD Police Chief Kerr Putney, who received a standing ovation for his comments.

“Don’t judge me by any words that come out of my mouth, though I mean every syllable, judge me by what I do,” says Putney.

Panelist Joel Segal says the Congressional Black Caucus will submit a proposal to President Barack Obama and ask for an executive order to put an end to the violence.

“Make sure that the 18,000 police precincts have the money that they need to get the training and the cameras that they can’t afford now,” says Segal.

They will also ask for federal uniformed guidelines for all police.