Acknowledging that it might be a tough sell during the holiday season, Mayor Michael Hancock on Friday hosted what he called an “appropriate” conversation on race relations in Denver.
“We can, and we want, to do better,” Hancock said. “My hope is that, starting today, we will build the ability to say that we all should be able to have very frank discussions about anything.”
Despite the mayor’s concerns, it was clear that there was an eager appetite for the 90-minute forum at the History Colorado Center.
The standing-room-only audience included Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia, about 10 state representatives, Denver Public Schools Superintendent Tom Boasberg, members of the Denver police and sheriff’s departments and a cross-section of citizens — young and old, black and white, students and professionals.
Many of those present Friday wanted to focus on the role of the Denver Police Department.
One of the seven panelists, Lisa Calderon of the Colorado Latino Forum, said unrest among citizens stems in part from the department’s “broken windows” policy, which theorizes that strong police reaction to so-called lesser crimes in neighborhoods prevents bigger incidents from occurring.
Critics, however, argue that a zero-tolerance stance increases tensions between officers and citizens.
“Ten years ago I pleaded with (DPD) not to unleash ‘broken windows’ on the city,” Calderon said. “These are the fruits of that inappropriate policy. … This movement is communities across the entire city saying, ‘We’re fed up.’ “
Fellow panelist Denver Police Chief Robert White, in his third year on the job, blamed discord on an ongoing lack of communication and respect between cops and the public.
“When something happens, it explodes because of that lack of respect,” White said.
“If we don’t develop that, I guarantee that 20 years from now, there will be another mayor and another police chief sitting here having these discussions.”
At one point, Hancock questioned the role the media has played in shaping the emotions of recent weeks. As the nation awaited the announcement of the grand jury’s decision in Ferguson, Mo., the mayor noted, television news focused on images of storefronts being boarded up and news anchors questioning whether there would be riots.
“It was personally frustrating to me,” Hancock said.
Others challenged the audience members to take greater control of their fate by making their voices heard politically.
“The system has to be changed,” said state Rep. Joe Salazar, D-Thornton. “You have to be part of that. You’re here today, but you need to be (at the state legislature) from January to May.”
Hancock said the hope is that community groups will become major players. He said they could help move the needle by inviting city leaders to join them on their turf to continue the discussion.
“The civil rights movement wasn’t just Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” he said.
“People stood up and helped change the system. And if we’re going to change the system in Denver, it can’t just be Mayor Hancock. It has to be every citizen in Denver.”
Hancock said the city would host at least two more forums in January.
Later, perhaps as soon as February, the mayor said, Denver would host a citywide summit as a culmination of the smaller meetings.
Anthony Cotton: acotton@denverpost.com or 303-954-1292
