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Rahm Calls For Trust On Both Sides In Debate Between Activists, Police

By Ted Cox | August 15, 2016 4:14pm
"Trust happens on both sides," Mayor Rahm Emanuel said of the debate between police and activists. "You have to earn it every day at every level."
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DNAinfo/Ted Cox

WEST LOOP — Addressing the weekend of unrest in Milwaukee, Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Monday rejected the increasingly polarized debate between activists and police.

"I'm against and opposed to having a debate where it gets polarized," Emanuel said during a news conference following the opening of Motorola Solutions' new headquarters in the West Loop.

"I'm against demonizing anyone or anybody," Emanuel added. "Trust happens both ways. You have to earn it every day at every level."

Emanuel pointed to how Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn was in town just last week to discuss police tactics against a nationwide spike in crime in a meeting with other chiefs, including Chicago Supt. Eddie Johnson. Emanuel said he had been in contact constantly with Johnson and Deputy Supt. John Escalante over the last few days to discuss events in Milwaukee and Chicago's own violent weekend.

Emanuel said both police and activists demanding police oversight and accountability have their points. He went out of his way, however, to cite the Chicago officers who recently bought a backyard pool for 6-year-old Tacarra Morgan after she was shot and wounded in Englewood last month.

"That's the true face of our police officers," Emanuel said.

"I do not accept that you're going to point your fingers and say the police are the problem," he added. "Police are part of the solution and not to be ostracized as part of the problem."

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