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Resident urges Roanoke to acknowledge five‑year protest response and revise protest permitting
Summary
A community leader called on the city to apologize for police actions five years ago and to adopt a faster emergency protest permit process, and criticized removal of diversity, equity and inclusion work.
Bridal Cathcart, president of the GFWC Star Women's Club, used the citizens' comment period on April 7 to raise concerns about recent and past police responses to protesters and called for a formal city acknowledgment of harm.
Cathcart said she viewed a viral video showing a young Black man tackled by a police officer and linked that image to five‑year anniversary memories of the city's response when pepper balls were used on peaceful protesters. "I couldn't believe what I saw in that video," she said, and while she said the city response today is better than five years ago, it "is not up to the bar of where we are right now." She urged the council to observe the May 5 anniversary with an acknowledgment and apology and to create an "emergency protest plan" so organizers can secure permits faster than the current 30‑day process.
Why it matters: The remarks call attention to community concerns about law enforcement crowd control tactics and to access to public assembly. Cathcart also criticized the city's apparent removal of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, saying this is "the time to step up and say who we are."
Details and requests: Cathcart asked the council to examine the protest permitting timeline and to consider a model she brought from Pittsburgh that would allow quicker permits in urgent situations. She also left council members with published material about environmental justice and Roanoke's history.
Ending: Council did not take immediate action on the requests; the comments were referred to the city manager for response or recommendation as part of standard procedure for citizens' communications.
