www.theaustinvillager.com HEADLINES Page 5 ~ THE VILLAGER/March 26, 2021 Police Brutality City of to give demands you are Austin expected to follow. Could this be the issue? Releases The absurd amount of power they feel in cer- Economic tain situations can be abused when they feel Recovery hurt in their pride or pressured in any way? and If so, a case like this can easily be seen in the Resiliency novel The Hate You Give. Austin announces release of the Economic Recovery & Resiliency Framework, Towards the end of chap- Framework featuring 45 opportunities to create a more equitable post-pandemic Austin. ter 2, it outlines Kalil’s death from Starr’s point for Post vited to review the do not participate in for- Health Care Access Pro- Lacee Johnson of view. Kalil was an Afri- framework and provide mal city processes like gram. VID-19 pandemic. Connally High School can American teen, who Pandemic feedback on the oppor- Council and Commission Through federal was killed by a police of- tunities through the meetings. Coronavirus Aid, Relief, Police brutality has ficer after a stop that was Local SpeakUp Austin! and Economic Security been an outraging topic simply over a broken tail- webpage. To date, the City of Act (CARES) dollars in throughout our modern light. The important Economy Throughout 2020, Austin has launched conjunction with local world ever since the eas- parts to Kalil’s death are more than 125 stake- twelve COVID-19 finan- municipal emergency ily avoidable demise of ultimately the trigger (Austin, TX) – The holder engagements in- cial assistance programs budget allocations, an African American citi- point and the rising ac- City of Austin announces formed the opportuni- since the emergency these funds helped re- zen was recorded and tion. These pinpoint the the release of the Eco- ties included in Austin’s declaration in March tain businesses and jobs, broadcasted to the exact moment the police nomic Recovery and Re- Economic Recovery and 2020. These programs including jobs for histori- world. As viewers, we officer felt threatened siliency Framework. The Resiliency Framework. distributed more than cally disadvantaged watched in despair as 4 enough to shoot Kalil 3 report features 45 op- The City’s Economic Re- $115 million to support workers. Minnesota deputy offic- different times, and portunities to foster a covery Strike Team solic- Austin families, non- As additional recov- ers aided in the death of what actions led to this more equitable, com- ited feedback from vari- profits, and businesses ery programs are devel- Mr. George Floyd. One fatal incident. We can lo- petitive, and resilient ous groups, including an impacted by the global oped and launched, all officer stressing his knee cate the first rising action post-pandemic Austin Economic Recovery Ex- COVID-19 pandemic. eligibility and details will on the throat of the vic- point as soon as the of- economy. Topics in- perts Panel and several Additionally, City staff be available on tim, while the other 3 ficer spoke to Kalil “Li- clude: financial support COVID-19 Industry Focus collaborated with com- www.ATXrecovers.com. observed with no re- cense, Registration, and initiatives, health and Groups. Participants for munity organizations to The City of Austin invites morse. This incident proof of insurance”, to mental wellness ser- each focus group were begin new supportive community members to sparked endless which Kalil replies “What vices, technical assis- selected to ensure racial, services including the review the framework amounts of people to did you pull us over for?”. tance for businesses, ethnic, geographic, and Austin Civilian Conserva- and provide feedback on take to the streets and Even though his reply is and workforce develop- business sector diversity tion Corps, the COVID- the opportunities protest the mistreat- as simple as asking for ment programs for resi- – and to hear from 19 Health & Wellness through the SpeakUp ment of African Ameri- his cause of being pulled dents. Austinites are in- Austinities who normally Support Line, and the Austin! webpage. cans by police officers, over, to the officer this is not just in Minnesota but possibly seen as his au- across the country. Mis- thority being breached. The Responsibility Black Coaches treatment of African We can conclude that Americans have been statement with the fol- going on throughout the lowing question from Have To Other Black Coaches years. People across the officer which he asks By John Harris Jr. | VILLAGER Sports Columnist country have protested Kalil again for his infor- for justice for the victims mation, completely ig- (SAN ANTONIO) - I wrote about South Caro- and to finally create noring Kalil’s request yet lina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley in my change in the police demanding an answer sports column in last week’s Villager, but that was force. from him. Kalil only gives before I had the pleasure of watching her team play Despite the victim in to the officer’s request in person and listen to her speak about the respon- in the famous Minnesota because of Starr. After sibility that Black coaches have to other Black case being an African this, the officer informs coaches. American, police brutal- Kalil about his broken Staley and her team were so impressive against ity throughout its history taillight. Kalil responds Mercer in their first-round NCAA Tournament game has shown no bias for back with an attitude at the Alamodome, that I just had to write about any of its victims. Every “So, are you going to give her again this week. American despite, iden- me a ticket or what?”. Make no mistake, Staley is unabashedly Black. tities, ages, classes, and This angers the officer to She is proud of who she is, proud of her race, sexual orientations have the point where he and she isn’t ashamed to say so very publicly. been exposed to police makes an unjustified As one of only two Black women coaches to brutality. For instance, search on Kalil, desper- win a Division I NCAA championship (Purdue’s poor and middle-class ately hoping he would Carolyn Peck is the other), Staley takes her role as a whites complained of find something illegal on Black woman, Black coach, and the leader of young excessive use of force Kalil’s person so he could women, most of whom are Black, as serious as a South Carolina women’s basketball were over biased policing in take him in, but to his heart attack. Most of Staley’s players have chosen NCAA Champions in 2016-17. northern urban areas. At surprise he does not to sit during the national anthem before games to Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports around a similar time, have anything illegal on spotlight racial inequality in America. Jewish and different for- his possession and inside Staley understands the power of leverage. As the men’s basketball team and she coached the eigners from southern the car. Afterwards, the one of the best coaches in college basketball, male women’s basketball team at Temple in her home- and eastern Europe also officer walks back to his or female - she recorded her 500th career victory town. It was her first head coaching job. complained of police patrol car after demand- against Mercer in South Carolina’s first-round tour- “Coach Chaney is one that when I first got into brutality against their ing Kalil and Starr not to nament game - Staley, who will coach Team USA in coaching 21 years ago, he was by far the best male cultures. During the move. This sets up the the 2021 Tokyo Games, uses her platform expres- counterpart coach I could have gotten in this pro- 1920s numerous metro- trigger point, as Kalil sively and as often as possible. Entering this sea- fession and be mentored by,” Staley said. “I watched politan police offices, looks back into the car to son, the Gamecocks opened the year as the No. 1 him practice. I watched him talk. He used to come check on Starr, the of- particularly in huge ur- team in the nation for the first time in school his- down to our offices. He took me into film sessions ban areas like New York ficer unloads 3 shots into tory. and just taught me. He took me under his wing. Ob- and Chicago, utilized un- him. Once Kalil is down Of course, I have a special affinity for Staley viously, it was a sad day to see him pass away. But touchable strategies on the ground helplessly because we’re both native Philadelphians. I take just to see his legacy live on through so many against individuals from bleeding out, Starr does pride in knowing all about the Black woman rough- people, including myself.” Italian-migrant networks not see the officer make and-tumble North Philadelphia neighborhood she Staley’s success at South Carolina - she took in endeavors to get seri- any attempt to check on grew up in where only the strong survive and she over in 2008 - has led to there now being a total of ous information from Kalil’s body, instead the was able to carve out an unimaginable career path. six Black women coaches in the SEC. As the first them. With that, it is officer sits on the curb Staley wore a unique shirt for South Carolina’s Black woman coach in SEC history, Staley was de- easy to draw the conclu- with his head hanging tournament game against Mercer. The shirt de- termined not to be the last. When South Carolina sion that the violence low in his hands. With picted famous Black basketball coaches such as John defeated Georgia in the SEC Tournament champi- does not just come from the information we Thompson, John Chaney and George Raveling. It onship game earlier this month, the Staley-Joni Tay- a single arrogant way of know about the police was Staley’s way of honoring their coaching lega- lor matchup marked the first time two Black women racism. This draws the officer not checking on cies and the impact they had on her coaching ca- coaches met in a Power 5 tournament champion- question, where does Kalil’s wellbeing, we can reer as well as other Black coaches. ship game. racism come from? It is easily conclude that the “The shirt does represent some of the Black “John Thompson. George Raveling. And these no doubt police officers officer was emotional coaches that are making an impact, and some of other coaches that are on the shirt,” Staley said. “ work a troublesome job, not because of his ac- the Black coaches that have an opportunity to make All of those coaches that fought the good fight that and their days are com- tions perpetrated on an impact and to be a beacon of hope for other Black allowed us Black coaches nowadays to have these monly high stressed. In Kalil, but for the actions coaches in this profession that are striving to get opportunities and to be a beacon of hope and to be any case, cops are seen that might be done opportunities,” Staley said Sunday following South a vessel for other coaches once they get an oppor- as the authority, and against him, and over-all Carolina’s 79-53 win over Mercer. tunity to be where we are to succeed and pass that when put into situations, the mass controversy Staley described her relationship with Chaney, torch down to other Black coaches who aren’t in cops are the main ones this will cause. who passed away on January 29, when he coached position to run their own programs.”