September 16

Chief Tusken attends the NAACP General Meeting to discuss the cancellation of the forum and next steps.

Chief Tusken asked if the NAACP was interested in planning a forum and the members present at the meeting expressed interest in collaboratively planning a community-oriented “Use of Force Forum”. The Chief did not follow up with the NAACP after the meeting and did not provide information on next steps or how the NAACP could engage in planning, other than to “reach out to [him]”. Chief Tusken also stated at the NAACP meeting that he would not be reaching out to any other community organizations to plan, as (according to him) only the NAACP had issued a public statement. He did not follow up with the NAACP or any other community groups after this meeting.

IMPACT: There is a pattern of Chief Tusken and other City of Duluth officials attending meetings to talk to community organizations and presenting this as evidence of community outreach. True community engagement requires two-way communication and listening. The Chief’s lack of follow-through eroded community trust in the Police Department and saying that he would only reach out to the NAACP demonstrated his lack of understanding of community requests to delay the Forum and how the community wishes to be engaged.

Photo Credit: Photo by Samuel Zeller on Unsplash