ICCNC's Chairman of the Board Meets with Oakland’s Chief of Police and the Director of Public Safety
ICCNC: On Wednesday, July 19, 2017, Dr. Payman Amiri, the chairman of the Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California's (ICCNC) Board of Directors, met with Oakland’s Chief of Police, Anne Kirkpatrick and the Director of Public Safety, Venus Johnson at the police headquarter.
This meeting was a follow up to a meeting of Muslim leaders of Oakland with Mayor Libby Schaaf back in March of 2017.
Chief Kirkpatrick assured Dr. Amiri that the safety and security of all houses of worship including, mosques and Islamic centers in the Oakland is a priority for the Department. She emphasized her sympathy and concern for safety of all Muslims in America. Chief Kirkpatrick asked Dr. Amiri to invite her to an event at ICCNC soon, so she can get to know the community and hear their concerns.
The three discussed the importance of designating a Muslim police officer to serve as a liaison in the Oakland Police Department that can facilitate and address the needs of Muslims in Oakland.
Dr. Amiri expressed that the goal ICCNC of the community is to give hope to the City’s residents that feel abandoned by providing medical, dental and housing assistance. He emphasized that by giving hope to the people that feel marginalized and have no hope you, crime rates can be reduced and the relationship between people and the police will improve.
Upon discussion of social services, Director Johnson offered to introduce the organization that operates a mobile health clinic in East Oakland to ICCNC so they can collaborate on a social service program. Chief Kirkpatrick encouraged members of ICCNC community to sponsor a number of beds in homeless shelters in the city so the Police can direct the folks on the corner of 14th and Jackson Street to these facilities.
The meeting ended with the three participants promising a collaboration with the goal of moving the city in a direction that provides a better environment for the lives of all its citizens.