Detroit Police Chief Craig Must Go!

By Moratorium Now! Coalition

Police Chief Craig is speaking against our elected officials, Congresswomen Rashida Tlaib and Maxine Waters, because they are speaking for the people.

Representative Tlaib stated:

“We continue to see death after death of Black people at the hands of police officers with   no meaningful accountability for the officers or departments involved. We’ve seen money pumped into training and half-measures, but so-called police “reform” is not making our communities any safer. Instead of investing in police, incarceration, and criminalization, it’s time that we invest in and deliver safety. That’s why, instead of investing in an increasingly militarized police force, we should be investing more resources into our community to tackle poverty, education inequities, and to increase job opportunities.

I have never shied away from speaking truth to power. That’s why I’ve repeatedly spoken out against the Detroit Police Department’s (DPD) violent treatment of our residents.”

Chief Craig had the nerve to say “Who is she speaking for? When you talk about abolishing police, incarceration, when you talk about safe cities – what do you think the residents in Detroit want? I know. I speak with them.”

To Chief Craig: As residents of Detroit we say you don’t know what the residents want! 

Detroiters want safety. Safety does not equal more police. As residents of Detroit represented by Rep. Rashida Tlaib, we agree with her position to Defund the police and Fund the people of Detroit with resources to alleviate poverty,unemployment, and homelessness, and provide education and mental health care. The residents of Detroit elected Rep. Tlaib and, unlike Mayor Duggan and many other politicians, she consistently represents our interests. Craig is not an elected official, appointed Chief by the unaccountable Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr in 2013. Craig betrays our trust; and his actions, his comments, and in particular his police department’s policies and practices, harm the residents of Detroit. As an employee of the City of Detroit, Craig is using public resources to attack our elected official. This is unethical. Where is the Mayor of Detroit?  Why is Mayor Duggan allowing his appointee to go rogue? Is Craig speaking for the Mayor?

We join the many community groups who last year called for Chief Craig’s resignation. We, the residents of Detroit, call for Chief Craig’s resignation today! Chief Craig has taken positions against the people of Detroit. Report after report cites Detroit Police Department’s harmful treatment of Black Lives Matter protesters. The City even took protesters to court in a failed attempt to intimidate the movement. The City and Chief Craig did not prevail in court.

Chief Craig Must Go!

Invest in the People!

Fund the Community!

Signed,

Moratorium Now! Coalition

Racial Profiling Across 8 Mile Committee

Michigan Emergency Committee Against War & Injustice (MECAWI)