鈥淎s we celebrate Juneteenth this year we are in the middle of one of the largest protests that this generation has seen, which stretches not just across major cities in the United States but also in locations around the world all focused on the treatment of the black body in America by the state actors namely police departments.听 We are also recording the devasting impact of health disparities among these same black bodies as they have higher rates of severe illness and death due to the COVID-19.听
These and other topics are high on the priority list for parents of recent graduates who all had to celebrate the milestone of high school graduation virtually and with yard signs instead of the usual ceremonies and yard parties that have been a huge tradition in the culture.听 The first topic in a series of recorded dialog sessions to come is dealing with creating safe spaces for our youth to Exercise their 1st听Amendment rights to protest and assemble.听
The first guest is Chief Terence M. Calloway who currently serves as Florida A&M University鈥檚 Asst. VP of Safety/Chief of Police. Chief Calloway is the current President of the HBCU-Law Enforcement Executive Administrators (HBCU-LEEA). This is an organization of all police chiefs and law enforcement executes in the HBCU space.听 I have the pleasure of serving alongside Chief Calloway as the Special Assistant to the President and General Counsel for the organization.听 It is in his capacity as President of HBCU-LEEA that Chief Calloway has been asked to engage in dialog commemorating Juneteenth and providing a safe way forward for our students.鈥