CBC Members and Black Mayors Discuss Safety in the Age of Trump

Yesterday, the Congressional Black Caucus and the Vera Institute of Justice hosted a virtual roundtable and Q&A to discuss how local and federal leaders are contributing to historic crime declines, and present a proactive vision of public safety. The conversation was moderated by Vera President Insha Rahman and featured U.S. Rep. Summer Lee (PA-12), U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown (OH-11), Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, and Durham Mayor Leonardo "Leo" Williams.

The conversation and Q&A can be viewed here.

"For too long, leaders in Washington and around our nation have weaponized the issue of public safety with a failed 'tough on crime' approach that drives fear and division while fueling a cycle of mass incarceration, instead of delivering real solutions that make communities safer," said CBC Chair Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09). "President Trump has routinely demonized cities with sizable Black populations as crime-ridden or lawless to justify policies that have made our communities less safe, undermined trust between communities and law enforcement, and diverted attention from proven, evidence-based strategies that reduce violence. The facts tell a different story: Black mayors in cities across America are leading some of the nation's most successful crime reduction efforts. The Congressional Black Caucus is proud to partner with the Vera Institute of Justice on the Serious About Safety campaign, and I applaud the leadership of Congresswomen Summer Lee and Shontel Brown, along with mayors like Brandon Scott, Ras J. Baraka, and Leonardo Williams, who are proving that community-based, evidence-driven investments make neighborhoods safer. The CBC will continue fighting for serious solutions that reduce crime, strengthen communities, and deliver lasting public safety."

"While Trump focuses on "tough on crime" fear-mongering and counter-productive gimmicks like deploying the National Guard, Black Mayors across the country are doing the real work to make cities safer. I'm proud to stand with my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus to set the record straight and advocate for real public safety solutions," said Congresswoman Shontel Brown.

"In Baltimore, we know how to solve the issue of public safety," said Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott. "It's about investing in public health, it's about getting rid of vacant houses and providing opportunities. It's about being focused on the very small percent who are responsible for the overwhelming amount of violence in our communities-going after guns and getting them off our streets. We are currently seeing a historic reduction in violence and homicides, and we want to push it even further. You don't do that without the support of the community."

"Crime rates continue to fall across the country to historic levels thanks to bold, community-first approaches to public safety like the ones discussed today. While the Trump administration continues its assault on immigrants and cities, while simultaneously gutting programs that we know increase safety, local and federal leaders-specifically Black leaders like Rep. Summer Lee, Rep. Shontel Brown, and Mayors Scott, Baraka and Williams are charting a path forward for all to follow. Their serious approach to safety is a model for how we can prevent crime before it happens and continue to help communities thrive," said Vera President Insha Rahman.

"Our approach in Newark is to treat crime and violence as a public health issue. And what we see now in our city - with a homicide rate that hasn't been this low since Eisenhower was president - is the result of us focusing on the kind of things that have been absent from our neighborhoods: investing in housing, investing in our young people, literacy, education, recreation and opportunity. When you start to add that, and at the same time address some of the symptomatic issues and build a community-based public safety ecosystem centered on violence prevention and trauma recovery, you'll see that violence and crime gets reduce gradually. It's all about putting the 'public' back into 'public safety.'" - Newark Mayor Ray J. Baraka