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City leaders to host community forum amid tense police, citizen relationship

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte leaders will host a community forum Monday amid a sometimes tense relationship between police and citizens.

The meeting comes just days after another officer-involved shooting.

The focus of the forum will be “Can We Talk?” with topics ranging from riots last fall following the officer-involved shooting death of Keith Scott to, most recently, Josue Diaz being killed in east Charlotte, after his encounter with an undercover police officer.

Curtis Hayes helped organize Charlotte protests in hopes of progress, but said he's struggling to see it.

“Accountability.  That’s the main thing everyone is seeking, that we're not getting,” Hayes said. “Unless you're seeing actual things in the streets, actual police de-escalating situations, how can you tell there's really any improvement?”

Forum organizers like Willie Ratchford said they'll start by walking through this letter from the City Council to the Charlotte community dated Oct. 3, in response to Charlotte protests.

Among its promises are a focus on safety, trust and accountability.

Ratchford said they’re still working to build trust with the community's help.

“What are you personally willing to do to help move the community forward,” Ratchford said. “Nothing's being missed.  It just needs to be action.”

The forum Monday will be inside the Palmer building on Seventh Street from 6-8 p.m.