Rallies against racism continue in D.M., across state; new policies being discussed

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Protests and calls for change are continuing across the state and in the metro, locally being led by the Des Moines Black Lives Matter organization and others, following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Here is a look at all what happened this weekend and what will happen today. 

  • Des Moines City Council will consider racial profiling ordinance at tonight’s meeting (Des Moines Register): As peaceful protests continue across the metro, the Des Moines City Council could pass an anti-racial profiling ordinance at its meeting today. Late Friday afternoon, city staff published a new proposal to ban racial profiling on today’s meeting agenda. It bans biased policing, stating that officers “shall not consider individual demographics” when policing “except when such characteristics are part of a specific subject description.” When protesters last week demanded such an ordinance outside Mayor Frank Cownie’s home, he said he believes it will be passed. Demonstrators are planning to gather during tonight’s meeting, KCCI reports.
  • Meanwhile at the Statehouse, legislators are also pushing to address racial disparities in Iowa (Iowa Capital Dispatch): Democratic state lawmakers are calling for a ban on police chokeholds and neck restraints, prohibiting law enforcement agencies from rehiring officers who were fired or resigned for serious misconduct and allowing the Iowa attorney general’s office to investigate law enforcement agencies for misconduct. Republican leaders have also pledged to work on policy related to racial discrimination.
  • Several University of Iowa football players decry racism within the program (Cedar Rapids Gazette): Iowa Hawkeye football Coach Kirk Ferentz and athletics director Gary Barta announced an independent, external review of the football program following social media posts from some African American former players, calling the program a culture of racial inequality. Strength and conditioning coach Chris Doyle was placed on administrative leave Saturday night after some of the former players singled him out on Twitter. Protesters vandalized parts of Kinnick Stadium over the weekend in response to the allegations.