Iowa City Establishes New Truth And Reconciliation Commission; Appoints Board

From the City of Iowa City:

November 18, 2020

The Iowa City City Council officially established the Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission at their September 15, 2020, formal meeting. Following an application and review process, Council announced the appointment of nine board members to serve two-year terms at their November 17, 2020 meeting.

The commission was established by Council in order to address issues of racial injustice in Iowa City and to carry out restorative justice, through the collection of testimony and public hearings, with such work to include a recommendation to the Council of a plan for dedicating and/or renaming public spaces and/or rights of way in honor of the Black Lives Matter movement.

The terms for the new commission members begin immediately for the following people: Amel Ali, Anthony Currin, Raneem Hamad, T'Shaliyn Harrington, Eric Harris, Layana Navarre-Jackson, Royceann Porter, Kevin John Rivera, and Mohamed Traore.

The duties of the new board include fact-finding; truth-telling, and reconciliation as key priorities. A resolution detailing its structure and establishing the new commission can be found here.

Learn more about the Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission and stay up-to-date on meeting schedules and agendas here.

This press release was produced by the City of Iowa City. The views expressed here are the author’s own.