NAACP panel: Problems larger than Saturday rally need solved

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

In the days leading up to a hate group planning a Dayton rally, a local panel emphasized there are larger problems of racism to dismantle long after the Saturday event is over.

The panel, called An Evening Discussion on Race Relations, was held at the Dayton Art Institute and hosted by the NAACP Dayton Unit.

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“This city is so segregated on all levels … We should question every aspect of racism,” said Shannon Isom, CEO of the YWCA Dayton, who was one of the panelists.

Panelist Mila P. Cooper, executive director of the Coretta Scott King Center at Antioch College, said she is most interested in pushing for changes that result in equity.

“I think racism will always exist, at least in my life time, so will white supremacy. But we have achieved some results,” Cooper said.

Cooper said the problem is beyond a hate group coming to Dayton from Indiana, and she highlighted inequities facing black communities from food access to the state’s school funding system that has been ruled unconstitutional.

‘“I think we need to look at results and at disparities beyond hate groups. That’s the easy part, because they are overt,” she said.

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