Melissa Ross
Activists in Jacksonville are hosting a town hall meeting tonight at the Wells Fargo offices on North Main Street after weeks of protests against the shooting death of Vernell Bing.
The Kemetic Empire says it’s hosting the event “to present solutions, a platform for the community to express their views and concerns.”
Invited to appear are State Attorney Angela Corey, Sheriff Mike Williams, Public Defender Matt Shirk, and Jacksonville City Council member Reginald Gaffney, among others. No word yet if any of those officials are confirmed.
JSO continues to face criticism after Bing was shot by police on May 22 in Springfield after he rammed a stolen vehicle head-on into a braking patrol car, ending a high-speed chase.
For his part, Williams says he’s committed to more transparency with the public and wants to regain trust in the city’s African-American neighborhoods. His Sheriff’s Initiative, a study of police policies, is expected to issue a report later this month.
