Fort Worth’s Southern Christian Leadership Committee (SCLC), the NAACP, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), and the U.S. Department of Justice Community Relations Service decided to come together to form a civil/human rights coalition. The purpose of the new organization is to support each others’ causes and to handle all cases of discriminatory nature in Fort Worth.
On March 12, 2005, United States Attorney General Eric Holder announced the cities for the National Initiative for Building Community Trust and Justice and Fort Worth, Texas was selected.
There are three significant new steps the DOJ is taking as part of this exciting initiative.
First, we have selected six cities to serve as pilot sites for innovative strategies to strengthen bonds between police and citizens they serve: Birmingham, Alabama; Stockton, California; Gary, Indiana; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Fort Worth, Texas. By helping to develop programs that serve their own diverse experiences, these cities will stand on the leading edge of our effort to confront pressing issues in communities across the country.
Second, we have launched a new online resource, available at trustandjustice.org, which will advance cutting-edge research and information about best practices and trust-building policy.
Third, we’re offering training, mentoring, expert consultations, and assistance on racial reconciliation directly to police departments and communities across America through the Office of Justice Programs’ Diagnostic Center.
These are groundbreaking advances—but the Department of Justice will not accomplish these goals alone. We will continue to work side-by-side with law enforcement to identify opportunities for positive change. And we will work with communities to seek avenues for building more healthy environments.
