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Disability advocate urges police accountability after troubling interaction; public commenters press for restored HRC
Summary
During public testimony Cassandra Xavier described a police interaction in which she was asked for her Social Security number and urged removal of that question from encounter forms; other public commenters described long delays and urged the council to rebuild an independent Human Rights Commission.
Public testimony at the end of the hearing included a two‑minute comment from Cassandra Xavier, a disability advocate who described a recent encounter with the Boston Police Department that left her feeling victimized.
"Police officer asked me for my Social Security number, and I was taken back by that question," Xavier said, adding that she had begun conversations with police accountability staff about removing that questionnaire. She told the committee she felt uncomfortable and was seeking greater accountability and clearer protocols for officers when interacting with people with disabilities.
Other public speakers criticized the commission's long inactivity and urged the council to ensure that the rebuilt body is both accessible and empowered to investigate complaints. Rachel, a longtime local advocate, said she had submitted a blueprint years ago to relaunch an active commission and urged continued public engagement and transparency. Dr. Cook and others described the human consequences of limited complaint pathways and pledged to remain involved as the council drafts ordinance language.
