NAACP Dane County today has released the following statement concerning the Madison Police Department’s use of force against Genele Laird at East Towne Mall last week.
“Within 48 hours of her arrest and the post to Facebook, Genele Laird was released from the Dane County Jail and will be referred to an alternative restorative justice program. She will not face criminal charges if she completes the program. The District Attorney stated, “Her victims each made the decision that restorative justice makes sense in this case.” The NAACP stands in support of alternatives to incarceration, this is a reasonable response in the interest of justice. Does it end here?
It is inhumane to repeatedly punch, knee and continuously taser anyone who is not a threat. The unwarranted conduct demonstrated by officers of the Madison Police Department was beyond excessive. This brutal conduct remains front and center in the discourse surrounding disparate treatment applied to members of communities of color. I saw nothing in the video that suggested the officers had any training nor attempted to apply de-escalation methods and tactics. I heard nothing in the press conference that suggested a proactive change toward building effective working relationships and trust between police and communities of color.
The absence of squad car/dashboard cams, body worn cameras and audio recording devices further places the Madison Police Department in question. If not for the bystander’s video, this would be another example of police conduct unseen by the public.
The NAACP Dane County will continue its role with the Black Leadership Council as it addresses the systemic and structural problems in the Madison Police Department, which plague communities of color.
The NAACP Dane County Political Action and Criminal Justice Committees will continue engagement in the discriminatory impact of policies, procedures and the conduct of public servants at the local level.
The NAACP Dane County will coordinate with the NAACP Wisconsin Conference, NAACP Region III and NAACP National to ensure that the civil rights of all citizens are upheld.”
