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By Kathy Wray Coleman, associate publisher, editor-in-chief

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The campaign for Issue 24, a proposed Cleveland charter amendment put on the ballot by the progressive activist group dubbed Citizens For A Safer Cleveland that would establish an independent citizens review board to review and act upon excessive force and police misconduct cases independent of the collective bargaining agreement, is in full swing as voters will determine the issue at the ballot box on Tues,  Nov 2.

Aside from the closely watched gubernatorial race in Virginia and other races elsewhere like big city mayor races, Tuesday is also election day for Cleveland mayor, all 17 city council seats, and primarily some suburban mayor and city council seats in Cuyahoga County, which includes Cleveland, a largely Black major American city where crime is out of control and police kill and do as they please to Black people with impunity. Early in- person voting and voting by mail for Cleveland began Oct. 7 and ends on Mon., Nov 1

The Cleveland community is divided over Issue 24 and so are the candidates for mayor. Council President Kevin Kelley opposes it as what he says is the wrong vehicle to seek to increase police accountability, and non-profit executive Justin Bibb, who will face Kelley for a runoff election on Tuesday, supports it, saying Issue 24 would put more community voices at the table relative to police accountability and public safety.

The Cleveland NAACP and the Ohio ACLU are behind it  as  is nearly every activist group in Cleveland, and some Black elected officials and members of Cleveland City Council. But the main supporters of the controversial ballot initiative are community activists and grieving family members who say Cleveland police murdered their loved ones with impunity.

"We're driving this initiative, the families," said Samaria Rice, mother of slain 12-year -old Tamir Rice, whom Cleveland police gunned down in November of 2014 at a park and recreation center on Cleveland's west side

Founder of the Tamir Rice Foundation, Rice is a founding member of Citizens For A Safer Cleveland along with others, including activists Brenda Bickerstaff, whose brother was killed by police nearly 20 years ago, Alicia Kirkman, whose son was killed by the cops some 14 years ago, and LaTonya Goldsby and Kareem Henton, co-founders of Black Lives Matter Cleveland.

Those in favor of Issue 24  believe there must be civilian oversight of police conduct investigations—a change to regain the trust of the public and improve transparency of the department. Advocates also argue that  If passed, Issue 24 will ensure real police accountability, independent investigations, and powerful civilian oversight in Cleveland.

Those against the proposed charter amendment, including the Cleveland  Patrolmen's Association that represents the rank and file of Cleveland police,  have concerns about placing power into the hands of non-elected civilians—which they say could steer officers away from the sector and undermine safety. Most of Cleveland's  largely White police force, however, consists of police who live outside of the boundaries of Cleveland.

If it passes, Issue 24 would make changes to the Office of Community Standards and would create the Community Police Commission, which would have the final say on police policies from recruitment to exams, officer training, and outreach efforts.

Cleveland activists participated in a National Day of Protest Against Police Brutality event on Fri., Oct 22 as dozens of community members, led by Citizens For A Safer Cleveland and Black Lives Matter Cleveland, turned out for a rally and march to honor the lives of Clevelanders lost to police brutality and to ramp up support  of Issue 24

The event began in front of the Ohio ACLU headquarters on Chester Avenue where Black families shared their personal stories of loss as a result of heinous police violence against their loved ones.

"It still hurts me 14 years later to even tell my story about my baby because Angelo left two kids behind and that's why Issue 24 is very important," said Alicia  Kirkman, mother of Cleveland police killing victim Angelo Miller. "I could never stop fighting for my son. I go to sleep thinking about my baby. I wake up thinking about my baby wondering what's next? How are we gonna fight this battle? How are we gonna get accountability for our loved ones?' I'm gonna keep fighting."

Black Lives Matter Cleveland leaders say that Issue 24 is timely and that voters should approve it at the ballot box on Tuesday.

"We have advocated for justice and accountability," said LaTonya Goldsby, who is both a Black Lives Matter activist and a community organizer. "Issue 24 is imperative to the trans-formative reform work that we deem necessary for the City of Cleveland and the Cleveland Division of police. That's why we need all of you to vote yes on Issue 24."

The city of Cleveland and the U.S. Department of Justice are parties to a still pending consent decree for police reforms, which was adopted in 2015 behind the police killing of Tamir Rice and Tanisha Anderson in 2014, Malissa Williams and Timothy Russell in 2012, and so many other Blacks who have lost their lives at the hands of Cleveland police.

Learn more about Issue 24 here

Citizens For A Safer Cleveland represents a broad group of concerned organizations and individuals who are working together to strengthen community oversight of the police, deliver justice for our families, and ensure that our communities can feel safe and secure. The group is led by families who have lost a loved one to police violence, and supported by organizations like Stand Up For Ohio, Black Lives Matter Cleveland, NAACP Cleveland, Showing Up for Racial Justice-NEO, and the ACLU of Ohio.

Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, Ohio's most read digital Black newspaper and Black blog, both also top in Black digital news in the Midwest. Tel: (216) 659-0473. Email: editor@clevelandurbannewsCLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE AT CLEVELAND URBAN NEWS.COM, OHIO'S LEADER IN BLACK DIGITAL NEWS.