The Department of Justice Community Relations Services has been meeting with community groups, elected officials and business leaders to soothe community relations and bridge gaps between Baton Rouge stakeholders in the aftermath of the July 5 shooting of Alton Sterling by police.
DOJ confirms the service, which works in communities where conflicts arises because of racial, gender identity, religious and other differences, has been working on the ground in Baton Rouge.
“I commend the work of the Department of Justice’s Community Relations Service in offering our elected, faith-based, business, and community leaders assistance in facilitating the difficult process of healing and community dialogue that we are beginning after our recent tragedies,” Gov. John Bel Edwards says in a statement. “I firmly believe that we can and will do better as a state, and pledge my full support as we navigate through these challenging times.”
U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch also will meet today with law enforcement officers and community groups ahead of 2:15 p.m. press conference, says DOJ spokesman Kevin Lewis.
The division, which has an office in Dallas, is tasked with helping Baton Rouge recover and to facilitate how people are working together.
Early on, state officials turned the investigation into Sterling’s death over to the DOJ. The community relations service, known as the DOJ’s “peacemaker,” does not have investigatory power or the authority to prosecute crimes. Instead, the agency assists communities in developing local initiatives to prevent tensions from rising and more crimes from occurring due to conflicts.
“This country was built on the ability of people to demonstrate but we should do it in a constructive way,” Lewis says. “A lot of people don’t have the tools or the wherewithal to do that so we help facilitate those peaceful demonstrations, showing them how to apply for permits.”
