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African American Task Force meets to address racial inequalities

Tom Byrne
/
Delaware Public Media

The African American Task Force met for the first time to begin tackling issues of race in the First State.

 

The task force is just one of the many items on the Justice for All agenda the Delaware Legislative Black Caucus crafted following protests this spring. 

 

The goal of the task force is to tackle an intersection of issues that affect communities of color throughout Delaware.

 

State Rep. Nnamdi Chukwuocha heads the Safety and Justice subcommittee. The topic is personal for him. 

 

“So many like my own family, so many families throughout our state know the forever lasting pain of gun violence due to the tragic loss as well as the lack of security in so many of our communities throughout our state still; that they’re turley under siege, including many sections of my own district.”

 

Three other subcommittees on the task force will focus on Economic opportunity, Health and welfare and infrastructure and environment. 

 

Delaware State University administrator Cleon Cauley chairs the task force. He says it’s a way of bringing together members of the community.

 

“The goal here, obviously, is for us all to enjoy this process but to also make it fruitful and to make sure that we come with the most extensive finding and recommendations possible. And to do that, we have to do it collectively.”

 

Task force members include legislators, state government representatives and community leaders.

 

It's the second task force formed as part of the Legislative Black Caucus’ Justice for All agenda. It came about following protests against police brutality and racial injustice.

 

The Law Enforcement Accountability Task Force began meeting earlier this month. It’s also expected to generate policy proposals to create a healthier and safer First State.

Roman Battaglia grew up in Portland, Ore, and now reports for Delaware Public Media as a Report For America corps member. He focuses on politics, elections and legislation activity at the local, county and state levels.
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