We are appalled and grieved by the fatal Officer Involved Shooting of Mr. Anthony McClain in Pasadena last weekend and extend our profound sorrow and condolences to Mr. McClain’s family and community as we all mourn this tragic loss.
And we recognize that sorrow is not enough.
We stand with the Pasadena community in demanding accountability, justice, and an end to the inequity that continues to define every moment of life for Black America.
As I’ve said before, reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and racial justice are inextricably linked and reflect the communities we serve, our patients and our staff. At PPPSGV, we are committed to the internal work to identify and address the historic and systemic racism that permeates all institutions, including our own. We also have a responsibility to call out and address the disparities people carry every day that result in health impacts beyond those that we can address through medical services and education. Therefore, it is our duty to hold our city and police department accountable by aligning our values with a tangible call for policy change.
Recognizing the wisdom and long-term work engaged in by community leaders and partners, such as the Pasadena NAACP and NDLON, we are proud to reiterate our support for the Pasadena Community Bill of Rights. We join the call for accountability and urge the Pasadena City Council to create a police oversight body comprised of an independent auditor and selected community members for the commission, with subpoena power.
The council is considering a proposal at their meeting this Monday. The members of the council are hungry to hear from their constituents about this proposal and we urge all residents of Pasadena to reach out to your representative or to submit public comment on this item no later than 12:00 noon on Monday, August 24. You can submit comments at the following email address: [email protected] or at the following webpage: www.cityofpasadena.net/city-clerk/public-comment. And regardless of whether you reside in Pasadena or not, we should all be aware of this effort and its potential impact throughout Los Angeles County.
Thank you for joining us to show up more fully in the fight for justice for our patients, staff, supporters, and communities.