Mayor Ben Walsh is set to release a timeline Thursday to address the demands of police protest groups not long after they wrapped up 40 consecutive days of marches throughout the city. Members of Last Chance for Change held a celebration and cookout Wednesday behind the Institute of Technology downtown.
But group leaders like Curtis Chaplin have mixed feelings about the results of their protests so far.
"We are pleased that we were able to make it through the 40 days despite the naysayers. We're happy to hear and see that we have the continuous support of the community. But the timeline for a timeline is still very insulting and discouraging because he's still not meeting with us."
A mayoral spokesperson confirmed with WAER News that there isn’t a meeting, but that the mayor will provide his response to group representatives that have been communicating with the administration. Chaplin accuses the mayor and police chief of being less than genuine about addressing their concerns. He says they don’t plan to stop marching and protesting.
"We have a lot of work to do. You will continue to see us. You will continue to hear us, and we will pop up at every event dealing with police brutality or any of the systemic racism in our community, we're going to be there."
Another leader, Dramar Felton, says he’s glad to see such a diverse group of supporters.
"We are all a family, as our local communities and neighborhoods standing together. We don't want the unification to be separated."
Last Chance for Change is just one of the groups calling for police reform. A spinoff group called Rebirth Syracuse has been holding regular gatherings in front of city hall.
