SHIRLEY PIERRE

MLK Photo Competition

Inlet Grove Community High School

December 2015

Civil Rights/Activism: FAIR AND IMPARTIAL POLICING…

Police get trained to better serve the public in this photo for the Civil Rights/Activism category. To help combat some of the real or perceived bias that often contributes to controversy or tragedy, more than 20 South Florida law enforcement officers gathered in West Palm Beach in July 2015 for officers-only training in “Fair and Impartial Policing: A Science-Based Approach.” The sessions were the latest designed to help police officers and community members learn how unconscious or implicit bias can affect how people see each other, and how they act. The training helped the police officers realize that they themselves had stereotypes based on implicit biases, as they are human, and how it can negatively affect policing in the community. The training comes against the backdrop of the unarmed black people repetitively killed by white police officers. The picture shows equality as Michael E. Gauger, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy, and Sandra Brown, a former veteran police officer now a civilian and Fair and Impartial Policing trainer, joined hands. It indicated that beyond their professions and races, they were able to see each other’s views on how to bring the police and the public together.  I liked this photo because it captures the symbolism of unity needed not only between white and black, but police and community. – Shirley Pierre

SHIRLEY PIERRE

MLK Photo Competition

Inlet Grove Community High School

December 2015

Equality/Human Rights: TRAYVON MARTIN’S PARENTS…

This could have been a photo of my aunt and uncle or some other relatives. In fact Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton are like most other human beings – except for the fact that they have been called to leadership, summoned by unimaginable tragedy: the inexplicable death of their son Trayvon, whose killer George Zimmerman walks free. Rather than being bitter, they are friendly and approachable, as here at the Fifth Annual Trayvon Martin Foundation back-to-school event, Aug. 8 in Miami. Seeing Trayvon’s parents in person, meeting them and seeing them happy, was a life-changing moment. I felt like I knew him, and his family, who are amazing people. They were enjoying the time we all spent together, even after the tragedy that happened. The foundation in Trayvon’s name brought people together to provide for us children of the future. His parents’ dignity as well as their humility shines through in this photo that I chose to enter in the category of Equality/Human Rights, to which the Almighty has summoned their quiet courage and leadership. – Shirley Pierre