Which Way, L.A.?
Hahn, Parks and the Black Leadership of LA
LA Mayor Jim Hahn, who was elected with a huge majority of the black vote, concedes that those supporters would be -disappointed- when he announced opposition to a second term for LAPD Chief Bernard Parks. But while everyone claims that the flap over Parks is not just about race, LA-s black leaders are outraged at Hahn-s call for Parks to be replaced. We talk to three African Americans with conflicting views of a city where race politics has dominated since the Watts Riot of 1965. Civil rights lawyer Connie Rice is the only African American leader to publicly agree that Parks should be replaced. Former United Church of Christ Pastor Madison Schockley supports Parks. Joe Hicks, former head of LA-s Human Relations Commission, blames a lack of political leadership for allowing the issue to wallow in race.
By Warren Olney • • 1 min readLA Mayor Jim Hahn, who was elected with a huge majority of the black vote, concedes that those supporters would be -disappointed- when he announced opposition to a second term for LAPD Chief Bernard Parks. But while everyone claims that the flap over Parks is not just about race, LA-s black leaders are outraged at Hahn-s call for Parks to be replaced. We talk to three African Americans with conflicting views of a city where race politics has dominated since the Watts Riot of 1965. Civil rights lawyer Connie Rice is the only African American leader to publicly agree that Parks should be replaced. Former United Church of Christ Pastor Madison Schockley supports Parks. Joe Hicks, former head of LA-s Human Relations Commission, blames a lack of political leadership for allowing the issue to wallow in race.
LA Board of Police Commissioners
