Dream Defenders Protest At Ft. Lauderdale Commission Meeting
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FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) -- For the Dream Defenders, it's about keeping issues of police misconduct and inequality in the public eye.
At Tuesday's Fort Lauderdale City Commission meeting, the group accomplished it's goal.
Wearing shirts that read "Am I Free to Speak," the Dream Defenders patiently waited their turn to speak and when her time came member Jasmen Rogers did not mince words referring to the four former city police officers who were fired or quit over a racist video and a series of racist text messages revealed in late March.
"Fort Lauderdale is harboring a culture of men and women who think it's humorous to kill, torture, traumatize, dehumanize, stalk and harass black people," Rogers told commissioners.
Click here to watch Carey Codd's report.
Rogers and others questioned why the city manager denied a request by a Citizens Police Review Board to continue investigating whether other officers were involved in the racism. The group also wonders how the city will respond if the fired officers win their appeals to get their jobs back.
"Will you stand by your decision to not allow openly racist officers to patrol our streets or will you cave under pressure of lawsuit?" Rogers said.
The Dream Defenders also chastised the city for its' handling of the homeless from the laws restricting feeding the homeless in public to a Fort Lauderdale police officer caught slapping a homeless man on video.
Members of the group left the meeting making their point and connecting their cause to the struggle against police brutality being championed in Baltimore and other cities. Outside the meeting, protesters chanted and sang as several police officers lined up in front of them.
Mayor Jack Seiler said he appreciated the protesters comments and commitment to their cause.
"I credit them for coming out here and making their voices heard," Seiler said. " They were very respectful. They were very polite."
To their complaints, Seiler said the city thoroughly investigated the allegations against anyone remotely connected to the racist video and texts and rooted out those responsible. He did not mince words either about the city's commitment to fairness and equal rights.
"We will not tolerate racism in our police department or within any other department in this city," Seiler said.
Seiler said he feels the blanket criticism that the police department is racist is misguided. He says the department has a black chief of police, many high-ranking black officers and the mayor called it one of the most diverse police departments in South Florida. But the Dream Defenders still believe that despite that, the deck is stacked against many blacks in the Fort Lauderdale community.
Click here to watch Carey Codd's report.
