This Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we honor the life and legacy – and call to action – from one of the greatest civil rights leaders in our history. Whether you spent the long weekend serving others, pledging to serve, listened to Dr. King’s moving speeches, or shared your dreams with your neighbors, honoring the work of Dr. King on MLK Day doesn’t end today.
“An individual has not begun to live until he can rise above the narrow horizons of his particular individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity” – Dr. MLK, Jr.
Fishers does not become a community that welcomes all or provides opportunity for all until it addresses the barriers faced by residents every day. What started as community conversations between Mayor Fadness and city employees with residents of color and marginalized groups in 2019, grew to a Community Committee on Race, a diverse set of Fishers residents who met over the course of 2019 and 2020 to talk about each other’s differences, likenesses, and what could be if we truly welcomed all.
Out of that Committee’s work came the call to action in September 2020 for residents to attend the Interrupting Racism Workshop, an immersive one- or two-day workshop intended to share the historical context of the creation of racism, and the social and institutional constructs that continue to perpetuate racism. Since that call, nearly 350 residents have answered. With overwhelming positive experiences, the City of Fishers continues to invest in bringing this experience for free to residents.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
As many of us saw protests this summer calling for police reform, the Fishers Police Department was already undergoing changes to their policies to ensure just and safe experiences for officers and the public. Fishers Police Department was among the first in the nation to receive approval from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) for national use of force policy certification.
This three-year certification is part of President’s Executive Order 13929 to ensure that law enforcement agencies across the country provide transparent, safe, and accountable delivery of services to their communities by prohibiting chokeholds as a use of force technique and by maintaining use of force policies that adhere to all local, state, and federal laws. CALEA has reviewed our policies and found that we are in full compliance with all requirements for federal certification.
In response to resident requests about the FPD’s policies, the Department published its transparency page which details every General Order and policy every officer is required to follow.
“The time is always right to do what is right.” – Dr. MLK, Jr.
As you wrap up this long weekend, use your time to reflect on what you can do to do what is right. Learn more about racism and injustice in America. Join a community discussion club. Have conversations with your children on speaking up for others.
Follow along at fishers.in.us/race to learn more about what the City of Fishers is doing to combat injustice and bring opportunity for all residents.