“That’s bullshit.” “This is not justice.” “Disappointed, but not surprised.” “What he did is a terroristic act and should be in prison for it.” The news that Michael Ray Stepanek, an Iowa City man who intentionally drove through a crowd of racial justice protesters on Aug. 21 in order to give them an “attitude adjustment,” […]
Black Lives Matter
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The ‘demure white supremacy of the Midwest’
Beneath a veneer of “niceness,” the Midwest is among the very worst places to live in the United States if you’re a person of color. That’s what historian and University of Iowa history professor Colin Gordon discovered while completing a report for the Iowa Policy Project titled “Race in the Heartland: Equity, Opportunity, and Public […]
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The Cedar Rapids City Council will vote on a citizen review board for CRPD in early 2021
One of the first items the Cedar Rapids City Council will take up in 2021 will continue work that was started last summer — creating an independent citizen review board in the city. At the council’s first meeting of the new year on Jan. 12, there will be a motion to set a public hearing […]
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Cedar Rapids City Council advances plans to create a citizen review board
The Cedar Rapids City Council unanimously approved a resolution on Tuesday that brings the city another step closer to creating a citizen review board for the city’s police department. The resolution directs city staff to create an ordinance based on the recommendations developed by city staff. The ordinance is expected to be drafted and presented […]
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Survey shows Cedar Rapids residents support creating a citizen review board for the CRPD
Slightly more than half of Cedar Rapids residents who responded to the city’s survey believe a citizen review board would have a positive impact on the community. The Cedar Rapids City Council heard from city staff on Tuesday about the survey results and next steps, including a resolution with recommendations that will come before council […]
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Cedar Rapids Community School District working with high school students on anti-racism initiatives
The Cedar Rapids Community School District is working to establish a Black student union at all four high schools and create a superintendent’s advisory council, among other action steps as part of the district’s anti-racist initiatives. Superintendent Noreen Bush provided an update on these efforts at the Board of Education’s Monday meeting. The update was […]
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Iowa City Council is holding a listening session on community policing at Mercer Park
The Iowa City Council will hold the first of six listening post events on police reform at Mercer Park on Wednesday evening. Each of the six planned events will focus on an issue important to improving community policing in Iowa City. Wednesday’s listening post will focus on how to better handle situations involving mental health, […]
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Cortado: La pregunta sobre BLM que me persiguió por casi dos meses
Era una tarde del mes de junio y por aquel tiempo yo trabajaba en la cocina de un restaurante de Iowa City. Por entonces todos estábamos cocinando con relativa calma—ellos un steak jugoso, un salmón blando y unos roasted potatoes, y yo una exuberante hamburguesa de 8 oz. Usualmente en la cocina de un restaurante […]
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Des Moines BLM leader arrested in Iowa City, faces felony charges
Matthew Bruce, one of the leaders of Des Moines BLM, was arrested in Iowa City late on Monday night. Bruce has been charged with nine counts of assault on a police officer with intent to cause harm, a class D felony, and one count of interfering with official acts, a simple misdemeanor. According to KCRG, […]
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Derecho recovery delays plan to establish citizens review board in Cedar Rapids
The timeline to establish an independent citizens review board in Cedar Rapids to provide public oversight of the police has been pushed back a couple of months due to the impacts of the Aug. 10 derecho. A presentation to the Cedar Rapids City Council on recommendations and results from the public input process is now […]
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Iowa Freedom Riders lead a weekend of protests ahead of the Iowa City Council’s next meeting
The Iowa Freedom Riders led three nights of protest in Iowa City starting on Friday to push for the Iowa City Council to take faster action on the group’s demands, ahead of the city council’s next meeting on Tuesday. A fourth night of protest is scheduled for Monday. IFR’s demands for action to address issues […]
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City of Cedar Rapids creates survey to get input from residents about citizens review board
The city of Cedar Rapids launched a survey for residents to provide input about a citizens review board and information about their interactions with the Cedar Rapids Police Department. Residents can take the 10-question survey through Aug. 31. The survey is online, but paper copies are also available. Anyone wanting a paper copy mailed to […]
