Dozens Attend “All Lives Matter” Forum on Law Enforcement Concerns

TYLER — A number of Tyler and Smith County community leaders greeted dozens of attendees Sunday afternoon at an open forum on law enforcement concerns that have emerged in different parts of the country. Attendees and participants at the “All Lives Matter” forum at Liberty Baptist Church sought to ensure that Tyler won’t be hit by incidents such as the ones in Ferguson, Missouri, and Staten Island, New York. Questions were posed to a panel that included Mayor Martin Heines, Sheriff Larry Smith, Police Chief Gary Swindle, District Attorney Matt Bingham, NAACP President Cedrick Granberry, and pastor Gilberto Avila.

Topics included constitutional rights in the court system, treatment of undocumented residents, how to file a complaint about local law enforcement, the January police shooting in Longview, and minority recruitment for law enforcement agencies. The discussion also covered challenges in dealing with drug activity, how to obtain racial profiling reports, keeping kids safe, and the selection of grand juries.

The forum was organized by local media personality and gospel musician Kenneth Butler, with involvement from a consortium of community groups. Butler said he was pleased with the forum, and he joined other participants in expressing hope that such dialogues will continue. Additional community leaders on hand included event moderator and Tyler ISD Board President Rev. Orenthia Mason, County Commissioner JoAnn Hampton, City Councilman Ed Moore, and others.