On 25 May 2021, the Criminal Justice Race Networks Alliance, of which the NBCPA is a founding member, hosted a virtual conference to mark the anniversary of George Floyd’s death.
Senior Crown Prosecutor Oriana Frame, who attended the event, shares her key takeaways.
I attended the Criminal Justice Race Networks Alliance’s inaugural event.
I have almost run out of superlatives in describing the quality of the teaching and the crucial amplification of key issues and Black expertise that I experience in the events I access through The NBCPA. It is just outstanding.
I am so proud to be an associate member of the NBCPA. I am so grateful for the way I am supported and challenged to be the most effective, genuine ally I can be.
Today I was honoured to hear the speakers’ perspectives, including Willie L Williams III, President of the National Black Police Association USA and Suwana Kirkland President of the Minnesota Black Police Association USA.
Hearing NBCPA chair Grace Moronfolu MBE (Her/She) list the extraordinarily long list of organisations united in this cause and committed to being part of the Criminal Justice Race Networks Alliance genuinely filled my heart with hope. A year after the death of George Floyd, we need to channel the pain and the outrage into action, into representation, into true solidarity.
I urge all of my connections working in the criminal justice system to look into how they can support the CJRNA: particularly those of us who are white. We need to learn how to be better allies.
It is time.