Over a thousand people from across the country have added their names to a petition expressing solidarity with Geneva City Councilor Laura Salamendra. A leading advocate for police accountability, Salamendra was instrumental in implementing the People’s Peaceful Protest’s demand for a police review board.
“The overwhelming success of the petition is yet another indication of the strength of the movement for racial equality, police accountability, and gender justice,” said Geneva Women’s Assembly member Hannah Dickinson. “The commitment and fight back that we saw in the streets last summer in the wake of the police murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Daniel Prude, and so many others are continuing. The outpouring of support, especially from people in rural parts of the state, shows the people’s movement for justice is everywhere! When we stand together we are so much stronger than the forces who oppose progressive change.”
The petition condemns the harassment Salamendra has experienced as a visible leader of the local movement for police accountability. It holds Mayor Steve Valentino, City Manager Sage Gerling, and Police Chief Mike Passalacqua responsible for allowing the threats and intimidation tactics to continue.
“Our goal with the petition was shedding a light on what has been happening in Geneva,” explained Penny Hankins, from the Geneva Women’s Assembly. “It is unacceptable for the Mayor and City Manager to tolerate and encourage people interrupting and shouting down an elected member of Council. The petition shows that people all over the country agree with us that this sort of behavior has to stop now.”
People of conscience across the region will demonstrate their ongoing solidarity and commitment to the movements for racial and gender justice and for police accountability at a rally before the July 7 City Council meeting.
The petition can be accessed at https://genevawomensassembly.org/petition/.