I voted in favor of this bill because I heard the voices of our Black and Latino friends and neighbors, the Native and Asian members of our community, who described their fear each time they are confronted by police.  Maybe the officer does not intend to put them in fear.  Maybe the approach is reasonable, but the fear is real and it is understandable.  These residents, young and old, explain how they are approached by police while driving more often than the rest of us.  They explain how in many towns and cities they receive looks of suspicion for simply being there.  Like my parents told me and I told my son, they tell their children to respect the police.  But they also tell their children to fear the police.  And they give their children “the talk” about keeping their hands in plain view, and not asking questions.

Read the full article on the Bedford Citizen.