FridayJul17,2020at1:00PM

Tactical maneuvers such as Defunding the Police (which primarily means moving some money that goes toward law enforcement to investing in social programs to help disadvantaged and marginalized communities that are most heavily policed, thus removing the need for such heavy policing) is a good first step.

Removing statues and other symbols of oppression is also an important step, when done in ways that dont result in backlash.

But what about the criminal justice system? What about Supreme Court decisions that have effectively gutted Fourth Amendment protections or Fourteenth Amendment guarantees for young men of color? What about the devils bargain between the war on drugs and the private prison industry that imprisons young men, burdens them with debt once they are released, makes it difficult for them to find jobs, and disenfranchises them?

What is needed is a comprehensive strategy that addresses all of these concerns. I am sure there are national experts and leaders who are working on such a comprehensive approach and who could be brought to Topeka to help educate us on what we can do locally.

The extent to which young people have recently been galvanized to address racism is one of the most positive things Ive seen in years. It would be nice if student groups at Washburn University and more established community organizations, such as Topeka Center for Peace and Justice, could be brought together.

Our younger generations have the energy, and other established organizations in Topeka and Shawnee County have the experience that if combined could have a positive and lasting impact on our community.

Duane Johnson, Topeka

See the rest here:

Letter to the editor: What next for Black Lives Matter? - The Topeka Capital-Journal