JOIN US TO CONTINUE THE FIGHT FOR A NEW POLICE CHIEF

Today marks the one year anniversary of George Floyd's murder, an act that sparked protest and civic engagement around the world. In the wake of that tragedy our membership at Fairfax County NAACP nearly doubled, representing our community's deeply held belief that police brutality must stop.

One year later, we continue to fight for police reform in our community. Whether in Minneapolis or Fairfax, the issue of police brutality is real and time and time again, we are told that our fears and outrage are misplaced. The issues surrounding the hiring of Police Chief Kevin Davis are all too familiar to Black people and people of color. What the Board of Supervisors refuses to acknowledge is the validity of our concerns over the hiring process, and our experience of being dismissed when asked for our feedback. If our County elected officials truly value equity, then they will not only listen to our 1,000+ members, but also take tangible action in response.

Kevin Davis' history with law enforcement is alarming. Within days of Davis' appointment, media outlets reminded us of two civil lawsuits against Davis from his time in Prince George's County. And instead of apologizing, Davis and the County brushed those legal actions (and judgments against Davis) off as nothing more than early mistakes. Meanwhile, the County's own summary of the residents survey asked for a chief without controversy in his past--another message brushed aside by the Board of Supervisors.

Sadly, these incidents are not the only red flags in Davis’ professional history. Davis and the County brushed those legal actions (and judgments against Davis) it off as nothing more than early mistakes. Neither Davis nor the County have even acknowledged Davis’s role in locking down a six-block area in a majority-black neighborhood Baltimore in 2017. The ACLU has sued Davis (then Police Commissioner of Baltimore Police Department) alleging that Davis and the BPD violated the constitutional rights of Baltimore citizens, a lawsuit that is still pending today. Meanwhile, the County's own summary of the residents survey asked for a chief without controversy in his past, --another message brushed aside by the Board of Supervisors.

The Fairfax County NAACP does not have confidence in the process by which the new Police Chief was hired, nor in its results. We remain steadfast in our request that the County release Kevin Davis and, in collaboration with the community, conduct a transparent search for a new Police Chief together. 

But we can't do it without your support. Consider voicing your concerns in the following ways:

  1. Call/email your supervisor: Voice your concern to your county supervisor. You can say something like: “Hello, my name is ______ and I am a resident of Fairfax County. I am calling with deep concerns about the recent hiring of Kevin Davis as police chief. In my opinion (enter your opinion-it is important to enter your personal account). I urge you and your colleagues to release Kevin Davis and restart your police chief search so we can ensure our county is safe for all of its residents.”
  2. Post messages to your supervisor's social media page: You can find your supervisor's contact information by visiting the board's website and clicking on their name. At the top will be their social media pages. Express your concerns on their Facebook page or tagging them on Twitter. You can post something like: "Fairfax County MUST release @CommishKDavis. Kevin Davis was never fit to be police chief and now we have to right this wrong for our community. Do the right thing (tag your local elected official)!"
  3. Share our messages on your page: We will continue to post our concerns via our Facebook and Twitter profiles. If you see these messages, retweet, share and repost them wherever you can.

We may be ignored, but we won't be silent. Help us make the County do the right thing. Our lives depend on it.

In Solidarity,

Karen T. Campblin
President
Fairfax County NAACP