A commission serving as a liaison between Tulsa city and county governments and the Hispanic community has given its formal support to work to address racial injustice in policing.
The Greater Tulsa Area Hispanic Affairs Commission sent a letter to the Greater Tulsa Area African American Affairs Commission pledging its support in the fight against police brutality inflicted on black Americans.
"Same as our African American and black community is suffering police brutality, we know that in the Hispanic community, we’ve suffered police brutality and through the hands of ICE, being in cages and so forth," said Hispanic affairs commission Chair Jose Vega.
The commission's letter said it will help hold city officials and local law enforcement accountable, amplify the voices of people of color, advocate for independent police oversight, and fully support reparations. Human Rights Watch recently called for state and local officials to make reparations for the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.
"These actions might be their top agenda while we are fighting our own top agenda stuff — these are part of our efforts, too. Because our own community is suffering through this as well," Vega said.
The letter says the commission condemns systemic social injustices and racism endured by black Americans.
