Madison’s Equal Opportunities Commission discussed Thursday how to move forward and take action against racial disparity in the wake of extreme community tension surrounding the death of 19-year-old Tony Robinson.

Last month, the commission heard Young Gifted and Black Coalition representative Brandi Grayson’s push for action to address issues of racial equality in Madison. Thursday, the commission addressed what steps it plans to take moving forward to address those issues.

Young Gifted and Black Coalition advocates for racial equality at city meeting

The commission discussed the need for active community and city participation in order to make any possible programs or initiatives effective. Members noted that groups such as YGB have a strong community presence and voice, however the city needs to listen to them.

“If the city doesn’t help, these groups have nowhere to go,” commission member Chuck McDowell said.

Commission members agreed on the importance of sending their visible support to such groups, and many members said they believe city commissions and committees have the ability to make a difference.

The commission questioned the effectiveness of various community initiatives such as neighborhood policing, and discussed the possibility of having open conversations with Madison Mayor Paul Soglin and Madison Police Chief Mike Koval to address their questions.

Madison community members peacefully protest officer involved shooting of 19-year-old male

Commission Secretary Corinda Rainey-Moore said the issues at hand are taking place on a much larger scale than just Madison. She said she helped children in both Verona and Sun Prairie who are also scared for their safety after Robinson’s death.

The commission noted the possibility of creating an ad hoc committee to deal specifically with these issues, and the possibility of collaborating with Madison’s Affirmative Action Commission to host speakers and tackle issues.

While the original conversation was spurred by issues of race, the commission was quick to expand the discussion from simply about race to include people with disabilities and the issue of housing segregation.

In a separate discussion the commission talked, once again, about adding homelessness and atheism to Madison’s protected class list.

City’s homeless, atheists could be added to protected class list

The commission made an amendment to the atheism proposal by adding “non-religious” people, which will cover other forms of non-believers, such as agnostics, to the proposal. The proposal, with the new amendment, was passed by the council in a 5-3-1 vote. The proposal will be heard at the next City Council meeting.

As for homelessness, the commission decided to defer its decision until the proposal was heard by the Equal Opportunities Employment Subcommittee. After being heard by the subcommittee, the proposal will return to the Equal Opportunities Commission, then if passed, to City Council.