The Hard Part

After an extensive review of the events that transpired after a clash in 2020 with local law enforcement and citizens in downtown Huntsville, the Huntsville Police Citizens Advisory Council has made notable changes to many facets of its operations. These changes were made based on suggestions from attorneys at Lightfoot, Franklin & White LLC and from the public who submitted various forms of evidence from the protests, as well as expressing grievances, support and suggestions for changes to how our local law enforcement operates. City Councilperson Frances Akridge appointed Jonathan Rossow in 2020, who is now serving as the Chair of HPCAC. Katy Ganaway talks with Jonathan in this new installment in our series, "The Hard Part."This is the long version of a conversation which aired on Morning Edition, All Things Considered and The Public Radio Hour (3/3/2022.)Note-- This conversation was recorded 1/27/2022. Huntsville Police Chief Mark McMurray officially retired from HPD 3/1/2022.HPCAC Website: https://www.huntsvilleal.gov/residents/public-safety/huntsville-police/community-resources/citizens-advisory-council/Listen to previous conversations in our series, "The Hard Part" here>> https://wlrh.org/hard-part

On the June 10th, 2021 episode of the Public Radio Hour, our interview series, The Hard Part, talked with David Person of the Rosa Parks Day Committee of Huntsville/Madison about their request that the Department of Justice take a closer look at Huntsville Police Department operations. The discussion aired in two edited segments, which are included in this file.Find more interviews in our series The Hard Part

Law enforcement and protesters clashed at demonstrations in Downtown Huntsville in early June. Garrick Rawls, one of 24 Madison County protesters arrested at the June 3 protest, talks on his experience that night and his views on the police-citizen dynamic since that night. WLRH's Katy Ganaway continues special coverage on local stories from the racial justice movement in Huntsville with this conversation...View Huntsville Police Department's response to community input regarding reform within the department here: https://www.scribd.com/document/471036701/HPD-Response-to-Community-Input

This week, we continue our coverage of the racial justice movement here in Huntsville, and we hear from folks who were present at the protests in downtown Huntsville in early June. Local photographer Aaron Surratt tells us about capturing on film the shift from a peaceful rally to looming clouds of teargas June 1 and 3. Citizen journalists J'Que Ellis and Rita Burkholder join media historian Dr. Butler Cain for a panel discussion. And Eric Edwards reunites with Andrew Kruspe, both of whom attended the June 3 protest in downtown Huntsville. They recount their personal experiences that night and the circumstances in which they met. WLRH's Brett Tannehill hosts this week, with Katy Ganaway.

As part of our series, 'The Hard Part,' we talk with people who witnessed a set of racial injustice protests in downtown Huntsville on June 1 and June 3, 2020, ending in anti-riot measures and munitions being deployed against peaceful protesters. In this continuation of our series, we hear perspectives and experiences from five of Huntsville's citizen journalists. Here's the long-form version of a panel discussion held with citizen journalists Rita Burkholder and J'Que Ellis, media historian and chair of the University of North Alabama Communications Department, Dr. Butler Cain and host Brett Tannehill.

The hardest part about making effective change is having difficult conversations. We can start to understand one another with a simple gesture- providing a listening ear and civil conversation. WLRH Producer Katy Ganaway sits down with Angela Curry, liaison for the Citizens Coalition for Criminal Justice Reform. They discuss lasting change in local law enforcement operations, improving relations between police and people of color and other topics related to the June 3rd Rally Against Police Brutality in downtown Huntsville. The protests were organized in response to the death of a black man, George Floyd, who died under the knee of a Minnesota police officer. This interview took place June 18, 2020.You can learn more about the C.C.C.J.R. by visiting their Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/CCCJR-101037118315495/And listen to other conversations here...Vice Chair of Huntsville Police Citizens Advisory Council David Little: http://wlrh.org/News/hard-part-talk-w-david-little-vice-chair-hpcacHsv./Madison County NAACP Chapter President Jerry Burnet: http://wlrh.org/News/hard-part-talk-w-hsvmadison-county-naacp-pres-jerry-burnetHsv. Police Chief Mark McMurray: http://wlrh.org/News/hard-part-talk-w-huntsville-police-chief-mark-mcmurray

The hardest part about making effective change is having difficult conversations. We can start to understand one another with a simple gesture- providing a listening ear and civil conversation. WLRH Producer Katy Ganaway sits down with David Little, member of the Huntsville Police Citizens Advisory Council. They discuss the council's role in improving police and community relations, influencing police policies and diversity on the force and other topics related to the June 3rd Rally Against Police Brutality in downtown Huntsville. The protests were organized in response to the death of a black man, George Floyd, who died under the knee of a Minnesota police officer. This interview took place June 19, 2020.The HPCAC has opened a form for public comment on the events that transpired at protests between May 30 and June 5 in downtown Huntsville. Community Input Form submissions will be accepted through August 7, 2020.You can click the following link to fill it out:https://huntsvilleal.seamlessdocs.com/f/HuntsvillePoliceCitizensAdvisoryCommitteeEDITS...**Little has corrected his statement in this interview saying he is the Vice Chairman of the HPCAC. He says he is currently only a member, not Vice Chair.**Little has also corrected himself, saying his statement that the Huntsville Chief of Police may appoint 2 members to the HPCAC is no longer correct. In 2010, that was the case, but that was changed in 2012, where the number of appointees by the HPD Chief was raised to 3 members, one of whom must be of Hispanic origin.2010 document: https://huntsvilleal.granicus.com/boards/board_answers/208653/attachment2012 document: https://huntsvilleal.granicus.com/boards/board_answers/208654/attachmentAnd listen to other conversations here...Citizens Coalition for Criminal Justice Reform Liaison Angela Curry: http://wlrh.org/News/hard-part-talk-w-cccjr-liaison-angela-curryHsv./Madison County NAACP Chapter President Jerry Burnet: http://wlrh.org/News/hard-part-talk-w-hsvmadison-county-naacp-pres-jerry-burnetHsv. Police Chief Mark McMurray: http://wlrh.org/News/hard-part-talk-w-huntsville-police-chief-mark-mcmurray

The hardest part about making effective change is having difficult conversations. We can start to understand one another with a simple gesture- providing a listening ear and civil conversation. WLRH Producer Katy Ganaway sits down with Jerry Burnet, President of the Huntsville/ Madison County Chapter of the NAACP. They discuss staying safe at a protest, successful interactions with police, why voting matters and other topics related to the June 3rd Rally Against Police Brutality in downtown Huntsville. The protests were organized in response to the death of a black man, George Floyd, who died under the knee of a Minnesota police officer. This interview took place June 11, 2020.You can learn more about the Huntsville/ Madison County Chapter of the NAACP by visiting their Facebook page::https://www.facebook.com/HuntsvilleMadisonCountyNAACP/And listen to other conversations here...Vice Chair of Huntsville Police Citizens Advisory Council David Little: http://wlrh.org/News/hard-part-talk-w-david-little-vice-chair-hpcacCitizens Coalition for Criminal Justice Reform Liaison Angela Curry: http://wlrh.org/News/hard-part-talk-w-cccjr-liaison-angela-curryHsv. Police Chief Mark McMurray: http://wlrh.org/News/hard-part-talk-w-huntsville-police-chief-mark-mcmurray

The hardest part about making effective change is having difficult conversations. We can start to understand one another with a simple gesture- providing a listening ear and civil conversation. WLRH Producer Katy Ganaway sits down with Huntsville Police Chief Mark McMurray. They discuss police training and transparency, protester's rights, health safety at protests and other topics related to the June 3rd Rally Against Police Brutality in downtown Huntsville. The protests were organized in response to the death of a black man, George Floyd, who died under the knee of a Minnesota police officer. This interview took place June 5, 2020.You can visit the Huntsville Police Department's website here: https://www.huntsvilleal.gov/residents/public-safety/huntsville-police/And listen to other conversations here...Vice Chair of Huntsville Police Citizens Advisory Council David Little: http://wlrh.org/News/hard-part-talk-w-david-little-vice-chair-hpcacCitizens Coalition for Criminal Justice Reform Liaison Angela Curry: http://wlrh.org/News/hard-part-talk-w-cccjr-liaison-angela-curryHsv./Madison County NAACP Chapter President Jerry Burnet: http://wlrh.org/News/hard-part-talk-w-hsvmadison-county-naacp-pres-jerry-burnet

This interview is a continuation on our award-winning series on racial justice matters in Huntsville, 'The Hard Part.'In June 2020, District 4 Huntsville City Council Member Bill Kling tasked the Huntsville Police Citizens Advisory Council with hearing from the public about the events that transpired at protests for racial justice in Downtown Huntsville. Kling says while the CAC took their time to thoroughly review the submitted evidence, he got in contact with local residents to hear their thoughts on resolutions to rebuild public trust between citizens and local law enforcement. After months of anticipation, on Thursday, April 22, 2021, the CAC will present their findings to the public. Following that, Kling will make his own presentation, based on his community conversations; in this interview, we hear about what ideas made it into the final proposal.