“Driving While Black? Racial profiling ahead. Welcome to Livonia.”

That is the bold text of a digital billboard that will go live in Redford Twp, MI on July 6th 2020.

Delisha Upshaw and Livonia Citizens Caring About Black Lives (LCCABL) devised the provocative billboard to be displayed near Livonia to supplement activists’ work to end racism in our community. Like all billboards, it is designed to attract attention: to be seen and heard.

This billboard initiative was not the activist group’s first step; it took many other steps to promote anti-racism, equity and peace in our city, however, its collective voice was not heard. Neither was mine.

My personal support for the billboard was only one step, undertaken after protests, emails, phone calls, in-person events failed to generate attention for our cause.

Like the majority of Americans, I was horrified by George Floyd’s murder. For years I felt impotent rage and sadness at the deaths of unarmed people of color at the hands of the police. I posted about it online, read up on how to record the police, and told myself I wouldn’t let it happen while I stood by and watched. Like many other white Americans, the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor spurred me to action I am ashamed to say I should have taken long ago.

Step one, I learned about the freshly formed LCCABL and its mission, and I joined.

Step two, I joined my first protest, organized by LCCABL in the beginning of June. I can say confidently that I stood with about 2000 others in solidarity that day. I was moved by the power and pain of the peaceful march in my hometown and I vowed to get to work. I wanted to do what I could to ensure that Livonia, with its long reputation for whiteness and racism, would not be the next place an unarmed Black American would die at the hands of the police.

Step three was going to the Livonia Police department’s website to look for their Use of Force policy and finding nothing. I had seen the Detroit Police Department’s Use of Force policy through The Use of Force Project and was pleased to learn it was one of the more progressive in the nation. Where did Livonia stand? I had to know.

Step four was contacting LPD through their website and asking for the policy, and receiving no response.

Step five was contacting LPD through their Facebook page and having them tell me to call the patrol desk.

Step six was being told by the records department I need to file a FOIA for that information. I consulted my husband Ken, an attorney, and he helped me with the wording. FOIA requests can be a little tricky. You need to be very specific. I was pleased I had a lawyer in house to help.

Step seven was receiving an incomplete FOIA fulfillment that was presented as complete. For some reason, LPD only provided me with 3 pages of their Use of Force policy. I believed I had the entire thing, because FOIA is a legal process. The paperwork I received said it was fulfilled and I had no reason to doubt it.

Step eight was reaching out by phone to the LPD to call for Use of Force policy improvements. I made a phone call on 6/16/20. I had done my best to educate myself on their current policy, and on what an ideal Use of Force policy looks like, thanks to reading up on Campaign Zero, a movement dedicated to eradicating police violence in America.

I had to call the patrol desk once again and ask to be transferred, since LPD doesn’t provide direct contact information for administration on their website. The Chief wasn’t in, and the Deputy Chief was unavailable, so I was transferred to Lt. Steve Petsch. I left a voicemail and he called me back the next day. We had a polite conversation during which I believe he did his best to address my concerns. I asked if Use of Force policies could be changed at any time. I was told they could be. I brought up the 8 Can’t Wait and Campaign Zero initiatives and was told they “already do all that stuff” anyway, even if it was not codified in policy. That LPD was “all about de-escalation”. I reiterated a need to have it codified. I believe that is the best way to protect both officers and citizens.

During our conversation, I asked if LPD collected race data on traffic stops. I was told they did not. Furthermore, I was told that the demographic data on traffic stops would not match the demographics of the city because POC come to work in, and travel through Livonia. I was given the dubious suggestion that at “2 pm on a weekday, half the drivers on the road are Black.” That has not been my experience, so I disagreed then and there. I suggested to Lt. Petsch that LPD start collecting race data on traffic stops, explaining how it would help prevent profiling and point out any disturbing trends by a single officer. To weed out the bad apples, something that is generally considered a priority when talking about police reform. I asked that the idea be brought to Chief Caid. I provided my email address and asked for follow-ups. I received none.

Step nine was writing another FOIA request with Ken’s help, after finding out that the City of Livonia released a misleading graphic saying they satisfied all 8 of the “8 Can’t Wait” use of force guidelines. The graphic repeated “Livonia Did Not Wait!” as they referenced policies that the LPD has in place to prevent police brutality. Even the incomplete Use of Force policy I was given by LPD was inconsistent with their claims. The graphic claimed that chokeholds are banned by LPD outright, however, careful reading of the cited policy shows that chokeholds are only banned during the collection of evidence. The graphic explained that officers are trained in a Use of Force continuum, but no policy was cited, because it is not codified in policy. I found other policies cited that I never received, and should have, based on my FOIA wording, and LPD’s claim that it was fulfilled. I thought perhaps LPD had made changes to their policies, so I gave them the benefit of the doubt and filed a second FOIA request. I kept the reference number for this one: 507–20.

Step ten was receiving another FOIA request fulfillment, but this time with pages randomly missing. By this time I was discouraged. I worried I did the FOIA request incorrectly, so they could leave out pages. One of the missing pages contained the wording of the chokeholds policy that was misrepresented on the graphic. I was heartbroken at this point. It was late at night. I thought I had done things “the right way,” yet I still did not have everything I needed. I try to always assume the best of people, but in this situation suspicion crept in. I put it to rest as best I could.

Step eleven was emailing a very polite, “excuse me, you seem to have made a mistake in fulfilling my request” note and finally receiving those missing pages. I received them by email attachment, whereas I had to go into the station to pick up the others. These policies were complete, and fulfilled within hours of following up.

Step twelve was attending and participating in the Partnership for Progress Listening Tour on 6/24/20 and speaking about racial profiling on stage. I tried to give my seat to a person of color, but I failed and ended up on stage, anyway. In order to advance the conversation I brought up witnessing racial profiling as a teenager in Livonia . It was difficult and nerve-wracking for me to speak on this subject on stage. I cannot imagine how much more intimidating it was for the POC, looking out into a mostly white audience. After the citizens group spoke, an all-white panel of officials said their piece. Livonia Police Chief Curtis Caid and Mayor Maureen Miller Brosnan both spoke. Mayor Brosnan was able to use her time to acknowledge systemic racism. Chief Caid spoke of his pride in the LPD, and unfortunately did not answer direct questions from the moderator. I don’t think he was purposefully deflecting. I think he was doing his job. It is unfortunate that he did not speak as candidly as Mayor Bill Wild of Westland.

Step thirteen was having a conversation with Mayor Brosnan after the Listening Tour. She had just seen me on stage, and heard me say that profiling was a problem. I told her we had a petition circling. I told her we had a call in to her office for a meeting. I told her I did not like hearing that people think I live in a racist town. She told me, “I know I don’t live in a racist town.” Perhaps she had to say that. But what I wanted to hear is that she wanted to change that impression and perception. It was disappointing not to hear it. I know how lucky we are to have a female democrat for a mayor in Livonia. I do not want to alienate an ally, but that particular comment was difficult to hear.

Step fourteen was signing and sharing the petition for police transparency, written by Ashlee Ciaramitaro. Ashlee, Delisha and I wanted to meet with the Mayor after delivering the petition, which was set to happen Monday June 29th. I contacted the Mayor’s office about it and communicated by phone with her Chief of Staff Dave Varga on 6/25/20. I was hoping to keep the conversation and energy from the Listening Tour going, and perhaps capitalize on having my name recognizable for a moment. Unfortunately, Mr. Varga never followed up about the meeting or responded to my email.

I will call this step fifteen, but it was not linear. Throughout June I communicated with members of the Livonia City Council. Some members of our group “zoomed” in to their meetings on 6/8/20 and 6/22/20. There is a time when the public may comment about items not on the agenda. Many group members were frustrated, which came through in their words. Citizens asked questions about LPD policies and asked City Council Members to respond to these issues. Livonia City Council President Kathleen McIntyre runs a tight meeting. She does not allow attacks during the public comment section, nor does she prefer to respond to each individual person. She repeatedly directed concerned callers to the mayor’s office, explained that this was not a time to ask questions, only comment, and thanked them for their time, quickly moving on to the next caller. While I can see the benefit of sticking to agenda items, this approach comes off as cold and unsympathetic when tensions are running so high. Yet again, people felt they were not being heard. I used my time on the zoom call to ask for an appropriate time to address these questions, and for patience in dealing with frustrated citizens who are new to the way city government works. Brandon McCullough and Scott Bahr responded after callers were finished commenting, both inviting further conversation by email. I followed up on my comment with an email to many council members, asking for a forum. I had a phone conversation with Council Vice President Bahr, and we discussed it. I received a follow up email from Council President McIntyre, though I have not followed up by phone with her yet.

Finally, step sixteen, I learned about the billboard campaign and I donated to it and widely shared it on social media.

Those actions listed above are only what I did. Other members of LCCABL took many, many other actions.

I tried to do things politely, in order to avoid being divisive. In every step, I have assumed the best of the people I have interacted with. I have leveled no accusations. I have done my best to communicate non-violently and without defensiveness.

For my efforts I received 30 pages of policy manuals, a few smiles and some polite conversation with promises of follow-up. There has been almost none.

If people want to change to happen through smiles and polite conversation, they need to start responding to it. They need to start hearing it. Until then, maybe they need a big, loud, direct sign.

Mayor Brosnan, Chief Caid, and some citizens of Livonia, are saying the billboard is “divisive”, and that it is “not welcoming”.

When I heard that, I could not help but wonder about that. Who is it dividing?

It has taken me days to answer this question, which is ridiculous, because Delisha was there providing the answer all the time and I was too wrapped up in my own head to listen properly.

I thought, naively, that they meant divisive politically, or dividing white people. And maybe some of them do mean that. No doubt we (white people) need to listen to each other more. We (white people) need to ask non-defensive questions, and get to the heart of the issues without rhetoric, insults or political theater. We (white people) need to talk to one another about racism, because, deep down, we are not as far apart as sensationalist media would have us believe.

Finally, I realized that some people who are saying that this billboard is divisive mean that it is dividing the police and people of color.

If you do not know about Livonia’s reputation, of course it seems divisive.

If you have not heard first hand from POC that they avoid driving through Livonia if possible, it seems divisive. Like it is warning them off.

If you have not heard from a BIPOC that they would never live in Livonia because of that reputation, it seems divisive. Unwelcoming.

But like Delisha has said, over and over, “they know. It’s not a warning. They know.”

POC know well that Livonia has a problem with racial profiling.

Maybe you, my white friend and neighbor, did not know. Maybe you are not like me, who knew, and chose to live here despite that. Maybe you have never heard “NIL” in seriousness, or even as a joke. You did not call into city council meetings. You did not participate in, or attend a Listening Tour. You did not have a conversation with a police lieutenant. Then, all of a sudden, out of nowhere, a big sign is accusing your police department of racism. You worry Black people will not feel welcome in our community if they see a sign like that.

That is because you have not heard about Livonia’s reputation. Why not? Maybe you have not been listening. Maybe you do not give off the vibe that you can handle hearing negative things about the police. Maybe your Black friends are work-friends or acquaintances, and they have never mentioned it to you because they do not feel comfortable saying something that could upset you. It seems unlikely that would come up in casual conversation. And maybe you have not asked them, which is fine. After all, it is not their job to educate you. It is your job to look into these things that might be happening in your own town.

You may be upset and offended because the problem of racial profiling does not exist for you. No one has ever complained about it to you. No one has ever mentioned it. Your only problem is a sign that accuses people you have been told your entire life are heroes, of not only having faults, but of discriminating and hurting people. You feel blind-sided and defensive.

And when the police respond by saying this sign hurts their feelings, and of course they would never do anything like that. You have to make a choice.

You can ask them for data to back that up, because you care where your tax dollars go, and what you support. Or you can take the easy way out, sympathize with the LPD, and continue to live on in blissful complicity. The billboard will not be up forever. It will only be in the news for a moment. A mere blip on your radar.

But I ask you, even beg you, to make the harder choice.

Just ask for proof. Ask for the numbers. If you believe that LPD does not racially profile, and that Livonia is a welcoming community, ask for the numbers to show it. Put those numbers on a billboard.

You do not have to assume the worst. Assume the best. I like to do that.

I assume Chief Caid is a good man who wants to run a perfect police department. I assume his officers want to protect all the citizens of Livonia, and all the people who drive through Livonia and work in Livonia. I trust that.

Trust, but verify, as the saying goes.

Ask Chief Caid to make Livonia a leader. Ask LPD to start collecting race data on traffic stops to provide accountability within their department. They can lead the rest of the way for the Detroit Metro Area, and for all of Michigan, by showing that they care about accusations of profiling. That they take it seriously and want to investigate it for themselves. Join us in asking for transparency and accountability. It is not too hard to write an email, sign a petition, or make a phone call.