Freedom Taillight Project aims to reduce police-driver confrontations
CANTON − Jayland Walker was pulled over by Akron police last year after officers noticed his Buick Century had a broken taillight and license plate light.
The encounter ended in Walker's death, after he led police on a chase in his car and then on foot and was shot numerous times by officers. Investigators concluded that Walker, 25, fired a shot out of his car during the chase. A Summit County grand jury declined to charge the officers involved, which has led to widespread protests and a civil lawsuit filed by Walker’s family.
A local group of volunteers are working to ensure that such tragic incidents become rare.
The Akron-based Freedom Taillight Project will offer free car-bulb installations and inspections from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at Advanced Auto Parts at 4566 Tuscarawas St. W.
The clinic also will offer warrant checks, a free lunch, and arts and crafts for children, said volunteer Skylark Bruce of Canton.
"We're removing one more excuse for pulling people over," she said, adding that the upcoming clinic will be the third one held in Canton this year.
The Freedom Taillight Project is the brainchild of an Akron organizer who goes by the singular name of "Madonna," who said she was inspired by a similar project in New Orleans.
"Our overarching mission is to reduce harm in underserved and over-policed communities," she said. "I said if ever there was time to do this, it was now."
Though numerically, the majority of Americans killed by police are white, numerous studies have shown that minority drivers are more likely to be stopped by police, hence the the phrase "Driving While Black."
A 2020 study published by New York University and the Stanford Open Policing Project, found that "of nearly 100 million traffic stops across the United States, Black drivers were about 20% more likely to be stopped than white drivers relative to their share of the residential population."
Black citizens are three times more likely to die during an encounter with police according to a 2022 study by Harvard University's T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
In 2019, the Los Angeles Times conducted a study on 385,000 traffic stops and found that Black and Latino drivers, when stopped by police, were searched more often than whites, though white drivers were more likely to be carrying contraband. The study also found that 24% of Black motorists were searched, compared to 16% of Latinos and 5% of whites. Also, traffic stops for faulty equipment such as a broken taillight occurred in 20% of Black drivers' cases, compared to 11% of stops for white drivers.
Madonna said the group repaired 85 cars last year, with the first clinic taking place last August at the Advanced Auto Parts store on Vernon Odom Boulevard in Akron.
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"They have been phenomenal," Bruce said of the auto parts company.
So far this year, they've served 45 motorists
Madonna said the people they've served have been grateful.
"It's been interesting," she said. "Some of the people who were more affluent bought bulbs but didn't know how to install them. Others, no way could they afford it. A $20 headlight bulb is a nonstarter for some folks."
She added the group welcomes donations, and is seeking partnership with minority-owned and other businesses. They also are working on acquiring their 501-C4 status, which will enable them to support political causes and candidates.
There also are plans for fundraisers to help support the purchase of bulbs and other equipment.
"I now have a vision for a nationwide nonprofit," Madonna said.
Clinics will be conducted on the second Saturday of every month through November. To learn, more visit www.freedomtailpro.org
Reach Charita at 330-580-8313 or charita.goshay@cantonrep.com.
On Twitter: @cgoshayREP
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Freedom Taillight Project visiting Canton for minor car repairs
