Student Organizes Powerful Panel Discussion on Police Violence
Jess Lueck, Copy Editor
Anoka-Ramsey student, Sumeyo Hussein, organized “Do Black Lives Matter?” a discussion panel held at the Coon Rapids campus on Nov. 29.
The panel included Coon Rapids Police Chief Brad Wise, Metro State Professor Dr. Katheen Cole representing Showing Up for Racial Justice, and University of Minnesota student Sumaya Abshir. The discussion was moderated by faculty member Melody Hoffmann.
The Legacy Room filled up with students, faculty and staff. The turnout was so great that the room had to be opened to accommodate more people.
Hussein began the discussion with a powerful introductory message.
“I want you to leave this panel feeling less uneasy,” Hussein said before turning the microphone over to the panel.
According to Hussein, the goal of the panel discussion was to discuss excessive use of force by police, systemic racism, and implicit bias.
The chief of police said he was welcome to participate in this discussion.
“The point of this discussion today was justice. Racial justice especially. Please push yourselves out of your comfort zones and do things you might not be comfortable with,” said Wise. “The only way to move the ball on this subject is to meet people like me, and hopefully this has changed your idea a little bit maybe on people in uniforms. Even if just for a minute.”
After the panel was finished, Hussein said, “I wrote a conclusion for this, but I will just say this instead because this went so well.”
Hussein went on to thank the chief of police for coming to the event, being so open minded, and coming respectfully without his uniform on. Hussein also thanked each member of the panel individually, the moderator, and the instructor, Brian Okstad, who inspired her to put on this event.