Dates set for ‘listening sessions’ on systemic racism in Whatcom County
Bellingham has set dates for four community “listening sessions” focused on systemic racism and issues raised by the killing of George Floyd and other unarmed people of color by police across the U.S.
Mayor Seth Fleetwood called for such meetings in June, and they will be held online to meet the social distancing required fight the coronavirus pandemic.
“We’ve chosen a number of different times and days, including weekends,” in hopes of allowing more people to attend, Fleetwood said during a City Council meeting Monday night, July 20.
Fleetwood said the four events are scheduled for:
▪ 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, July 28.
▪ 6-8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 10.
▪ 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15.
▪ 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18.
Partners in the series of online sessions include Western Washington University, Whatcom County, Lummi Nation and others, he said.
He said the online events will address the “important work of dismantling systemic and structural racism.”
In several marches and rallies in June, representatives of Black Lives Matter and its supporters have called for reforming the police department.
In an online campaign, many Bellingham residents have called for a civilian oversight panel.
This is the pre-registration information for anyone wishing to speak at the meetings:
July 28: cob.org/listen0728, meeting ID 958 0522 4763, password 123.
Aug. 10: cob.org/listen0810, meeting ID 997 6322 7294, password 123.
Aug. 15: cob.org/listen0815, meeting ID 962 2738 1401, password 123.
Aug. 18: cob.org/listen0818, meeting ID 977 0880 4687, password 123.
Comments are limited to 3-5 minutes.
To watch or listen only, the meetings will be live on BTV television, Comcast channels 10 and 321, and on the city’s YouTube channel.
To comment or listen by phone, use any of these numbers: 253-215-8782, 346-248-7799, 669-900-6833, 301-715-8592, 312-626-6799 or 929-205-6099.
Meeting ID and passwords for phoning in are:
July 28: 958 0522 4763, password 123.
Aug. 10: 997 6322 7294, password 123.
Aug. 15: 962 2738 1401, password 123.
Aug. 18: 977 0880 4687, password 123.
This story was originally published July 21, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
