Going against the narrative.
St. Louis, MO – The new public safety director for the city of St. Louis tackled the polarizing subject of black-on-black crime at a ceremony honoring Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday.
“This message is for black folk,” Public Safety Director Jimmie Edwards, who is black, said from the podium.
“In order for Chief Hayden to have any success, in order for Judge Edwards to have any success, you’ve got to step forward,” Edwards said, as he urged the public to work with the police to make their community safer, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
He said that black people have to look in the mirror and address the black-on-black homicides if they want to move forward and continue MLK’s dream.
Edwards said King talked of a revolution, but profound change cannot happen without buy-in from everyone.
The new public safety director made those remarks while standing beside new St. Louis Police Chief John Hayden, who is also black.