LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas is keeping busy with a motion he recently passed that's intended to address systemic racism.

The “Antiracist Agenda,” inspired by national cries for racial justice, will hold officials accountable if they do not uphold antiracist policies, ranging from health care to law enforcement.

What You Need To Know

  • Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas has authored a motion to address systemic racism

  • The plan will create accountability for county department heads to deliver actionable policies against racism

  • Los Angeles local Dion Cardell says the plan is needed, after experiencing his own trauma with racial profiling by local law enforcement

  • He believes both love and legislative change are needed for real impact

“We are obliged to hear them and do what is concrete. Correcting those things that deny opportunity and perpetuate systemic and structural racism and make for a better environment for all,” Supervisor Ridley-Thomas said.

That term “all” includes Los Angeles natives like Dion Cardell. The local artist and dancer is happy to hear that department heads in the county will now be required to be intentional with eliminating racial injustices.

“There’s a sickness and it needs to be addressed, you know. There needs to be a cure and it needs aid. So I agree with it actually,” Cardell said.

Born and raised in Inglewood, Cardell says he has experienced his fair share of racial profiling from law enforcement, even though he has never been involved in any type of gang activity.

“A cop basically put me in the back of his car, just because we ‘looked’ like we are suspicious. And that was really rough on me. I remember getting overwhelmed to where I started crying, and I am a very open emotional person, and so I was crying and he was like ‘yo dude why you crying?' and I’m just like 'I can’t believe this is happening to me right now, like you really got me in the back of your car based on how a situation looks,'” he explained.

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As a dancer, Cardell expresses these emotions through his artistry, and he believes a combination of legal changes and a “revolution of love” are what is needed to bring true change.

“I feel like if we can focus on love, and what love really is, and the truth, then we would stray away from all other narratives, negativity, and hate being pushed. And they’re all lies. If we can focus on where love comes from, and what love really is, I think love is the answer,” Cardell said.

From community voices to government choices, Ridley-Thomas hopes his agenda will move the county toward being rid of racism.

“No one escapes being subjected to the fallout of racism. No one. Present company included,” Ridley-Thomas said.