CLEVELAND — Supporters of Issue 24 expressed their displeasure with outgoing Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson on Friday, a week after he slammed support of the issue that would overhaul police oversight in the city. 

What You Need To Know

  • Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson expressed his opposition to Issue 24 in a radio show

  • Tamir Rice’s mother Samaria Rice demanded that Jackson apologize

  • In an exchange about Issue 24, Jackson said there some are using their political philosophy to “take our tragedy and they pimp it to their own benefit”

  • Issue 24 is a proposal that remove the final decision to discipline Cleveland officers from the city’s safety director

Jackson has come out against the issue, which will be on the ballot in next month’s election. The issue also has created a wedge between the two remaining mayoral candidates, Justin Bibb and Kevin Kelley. Bibb, a nonprofit executive, is in favor of the issue. Kelley, the sitting City Council president, is opposed. 

A week ago, Jackson appeared on the podcast “The Outlaws Radio Show” and discussed his opposition to Issue 24. He called supporters of Issue 24 “naive.” 

“Those people who have certain political philosophy, they use the legitimate issue of the oppressed, and in this case Black people, to promote their politics, not to assist the oppressed,” Jackson said. “They just use the oppressed for their own benefit. That’s all that’s about. And that’s Issue 24. You should vote no.”

After, host Darvio Morrow‏ said “I have referred to exactly what you’re talking about as people manipulating Black trauma.”

“That’s all that is,” Jackson responded. “Tragedy pimps. That’s what they are. They take our tragedy and they pimp it to their own benefit, as if they care.”

Leading the charge in support of Issue 24 is members of Citizens for a Safer Cleveland, which includes family members of people killed by police. Samaria Rice, the mother of Tamir Rice who was killed by police in 2014, called on Jackson to apologize. 

“That was very hurtful and painful to hear coming from him as the mayor,” Rice said about Jackson’s comments. “At this point, I don’t expect anything less. We want a public apology. My son’s death was no tragedy pimp situation. It was because of uneducated police and undertrained police and partnerships in the city that have corrupted our city.”

As of late Friday afternoon, Jackson’s office has not reacted to Rice’s demand for an apology. 

When asked by Spectrum News last week about the city’s rise in homicides, Jackson took aim at those looking to implement reforms.

“If you want to tie the hands of the police in regards to that, then good luck brothers,” Jackson said. “Many times, the only thing between you, meaning the public, and that person of violence is that police officer. I will tell you as much as I hear about the police, I have yet to have a citizen call me and tell me, ‘Don’t have them come over here.’ If we get calls, they say, ‘When are you going to send some more?’ Particularly in those neighborhoods with high incidents of gun violence.”

If approved, a Community Police Commission would be formed, which in conjunction with the Civilian Police Review Board, would oversee police conduct investigations and discipline.

If Issue 24 passes, the city’s charter would be amendmended to make the most significant changes to police accountability since the 2015 Department of Justice imposed consent decree went into effect.

The commission would have final authority over establishing the policies, applications and examinations by which new police recruits must be sought out and recruited and screened, including screening for bias, and could conduct bias screening with existing members of Cleveland police.

Currently, the Civilian Police Review Board will review complaints against officers and make recommendations to the safety director. The safety director ultimately makes the final decision on discipline. If passed, Issue 24 would give Community Police Commission this power.

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