Latest news with #Gilliard
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rep. Gilliard Celebrates Final Passage of the Original 33 Memorial Act
ATLANTA, Ga. (WSAV) – State Representative Carl Gilliard (D-Savannah) announces the final passage of House Bill 303, The Original 33 Memorial Act, in the Georgia State Senate, where it was unanimously approved. The legislation had previously received unanimous approval in the Georgia House of Representatives. 'I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Chairman Matt Brass for his dedicated leadership in carrying this bill through the Senate,' said Rep. Gilliard. 'Today, we honor the giants—the Original 33 African Americans elected to the Georgia General Assembly in 1868. Unfortunately, they were denied their rightful place in history due to the color of their skin, with 14 of them suffering the unimaginable fate of lynching.' The Original 33 Memorial Act aims to honor and commemorate the lives and contributions of 33 great Americans. 'With the passage of this bill, we collectively send a powerful signal that Georgia remembers and recognizes the contributions of these 33 courageous Americans,' added Rep. Gilliard. 'Finally, we can salute these great leaders and celebrate their legacy and sacrifices.' HB 303 now heads to the governor's desk. The full text of HB 303 may be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rep. Gilliard celebrates passage of Savannah Music Commission bill
ATLANTA, Ga. – State Representative Carl Gilliard (District 162) stated his support for the passage of House Bill 762, which would establish the Savannah Music Commission. The bill, which garnered unanimous support in the Georgia House of Representatives, aims to promote, enhance and benefit the Savannah music scene and local entertainment and music industry. 'This is a monumental step forward for Savannah and the entire music community,' said Rep. Gilliard. 'The establishment of the Savannah Music Commission will not only elevate local artists and musicians but also enhance Savannah's reputation as a vibrant cultural hub, driving tourism and economic growth in our region.' HB 762 would create a commission to support Savannah's music industry through promotion and support of local musicians and new collaborative opportunities among artists, venues and the broader community. This board would create programs to highlight the rich musical heritage of the Hostess City while attracting new talent and events. Rep. Gilliard feels that strengthening the music industry would lead to increased economic activity, creating jobs in various sectors and make Savannah a musical destination. 'We envision a future where Savannah's streets are alive with music, drawing visitors from near and far to experience our unique culture,' said Gilliard. 'The overwhelming support for HB 762 underscores the importance of music in Georgia's cultural fabric and the potential for growth in the state's entertainment landscape. This commission will empower our local artists and foster creativity in ways that benefit not just musicians but the entire community.' The bill now awaits consideration in the Senate. To read the full text of HB 762, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
At 5000 Role Models' police and youth conference in Miami, conversations are key
Congresswoman Frederica Wilson recalls the time she knew she had to help address the issue of policing and Black men: She was recently elected to the school board when she received a call that a Coral Gables High School principal cut short a Black history program and told students they could go back to their classrooms. Wilson remembered that the disappointed students protested, police were called and by time she got to the school, she saw Black children being hauled off in handcuffs to jail. 'I said, 'no, no, no, no, you can't do that,'' she said. It was that tension between officers and Black students added to another deadly incident involving police that made her realize something needed to be done. When word got around that she was organizing a conference to address the issue, Wilson got a call from then Coral Gables Police Chief James Butler. They joined forces to create a two-day conference at the Biltmore Hotel which has become an essential part of 5000 Role Models of Excellence Program, a leadership program for young Black men Wilson created. The event is key in strengthening communication between law enforcement officers and Black youth, Wilson told the Herald. 'They graduate with an understanding of what the job of the police entails and by the police coming to these forums, they understand the feelings, the hardships, and the tension and the fear that is in the hearts of some of these young boys,' she said. 'So that eases the tension. You have to have that conversation.' About 1,000 students from the 5,000 Role Models program packed into the Kaseya Center on Tuesday to have that conversation at the annual event, called the Police & Youth Conference. The event is hosted by the 5000 Role Models in collaboration with the Miami Heat and national nonprofit Dedication to Community, which aims to educate society on justice. At the conference, students hear from professionals in law enforcement and engage with them in breakout sessions on a variety of topics. In turn, law enforcement officers learns about what's on the minds of young Black men and come up with solutions for policing that make both parties comfortable. 5000 Role Models participant and Coral Reef Senior High student Semaj Gilliard had an idea. He said he'd like to see more community-based policing in which officers that live in his community actually police their own neighborhoods. 'Police officers will live in my neighborhood, but they'll drive over to Coral Gables or 14 blocks down, when I personally believe when people are active in their community where they know people ...it seems to mitigate risks and bring down all the negatives that happen.' Gilliard also participated in a panel with Miami Heat legends Glen Rice and Alonzo Mourning and North Miami police chief Cherise Giordani Gause to discuss the state of policing and how residents and officers can come to a better understanding of the challenges both face when interacting with each other. Gilliard said it's important for people to interact with officers when they're not in uniform. 'The more you see them without the badge the more and more you start to see them as people,' he said. 'Now instead of an officer and a person talking, it's two people coming to a solution.' Mourning said many people's view law enforcement poorly in the wake of George Floyd's killing and the decades following Rodney King's beating, both incidents were filmed and shared across media. He urged the young men to understand there is a protocol they have to follow. 'Unfortunately, because we've had so many bad visuals of officers, we already have this perception of officers that's kind of fearful,' Mourning said. 'I still, when they're behind me, I get a little tense. Am I going to get stopped?' 'I have that same fear, too,' Gause said. 'When I'm stopped and I'm not in uniform and I'm out and I get stopped, I have that same level of fear. So, I think it's valid.' Rice, who has a brother in law enforcement, said he wishes more attention was paid to positive interactions between law enforcement and citizens. 'I think the media plays a big part of the solution,' he said. But Gilliard said that sometimes all that is needed is a little familiarity, recalling when he was pulled over for an illegal U-turn. 'The first time I got pulled over, I was still afraid of the officer,' he said. 'She came up to me and said 'It's OK',' he said. 'A couple weeks later in Publix, I'm walking there and then she taps me on the shoulder and says 'do you remember me?' 'That little interaction humanized who the police are in my neighborhood much more,' Gilliard said.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Yahoo
Monroe Police chief to retire after 32 years with department
MONROE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Monroe's longtime police chief will soon call it a career, the city announced Tuesday. Chief J. Bryan Gilliard, a Union County native, will retire effective May 1, after 32 years of service. He began his career with the Monroe PD in 1993 as a telecommunicator. He then served in various capacities, rising to the rank of captain in 2007, assistant chief in 2010, interim police chief in 2013, and finally chief in 2014. Judge rejects plea deal for suspect in Belmont man's disappearance City officials say Gilliard has led the department through the following initiatives: Advancing the use of law enforcement technology and community engagement to improve public safety Opening of the Bobby G. Kilgore Law Enforcement Center in 2023 Earning national accreditation and re-accreditation(s) from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Incorporated (CALEA) since 2007 Advocated for improvements in officer protective equipment and a modernized vehicle fleet 'Serving this City has been the greatest honor of my life,' he said in a statement. 'I am incredibly grateful to the men and women of the Monroe Police Department I've had the pleasure of serving alongside, and I look forward to their continued success for years to come. I want to thank everyone who supported me and this department for their confidence, trust, and encouragement as we provide essential security and protection for all our residents and visitors. I appreciate the support of the citizens of Monroe and their dedication to making Monroe a special place.' Gilliard earned his bachelor's degree from UNC Charlotte, his master's degree from Pfeiffer University, and the Municipal and County Administration course at UNC-Chapel Hill in 2016. He also graduated from the FBI National Academy in 2009 and completed the FBI Leadership Development Program in 2017. 'Chief Gilliard has selflessly served his department, his City, and his community with honor, courage, and dedication over the last 32 years,' said City Manager Mark Watson. 'We thank him for his service and wish him the best in his well-deserved retirement.' Chief Gilliard has served on the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Chiefs of Police Association and the North Carolina FBI National Academy Association. He has served as a board member for United Way, American Red Cross, Alliance for Children, Monroe Rotary Club, and Hospice of Union County. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
House committee passes autism missing person alert system
ATLANTA (WSAV) — House Bill 465, the Autism Missing Person Alert System Act, passed unanimously out of the House Human Relations and Aging Committee, a local legislator said Friday. HB 465 would add autism spectrum disorder to the list of conditions to activate the Mattie's Call state-wide alert system for missing disabled adults. This activation would allow for local law enforcement to prioritize searching waterways and roadways, which is part of Mattie's Call. It would also allow for law enforcement to disclose autism-related behaviors that could help identifying a missing person with autism spectrum disorder, bill sponsor State Representative Carl Gilliard (D-Savannah) said. Activation of the alert system for those with autism spectrum disorder would include guidance to local law enforcement to prioritize waterways and public roadways in their search and to disclose distinctive autism-related behaviors that can identify the missing person. 'Today, I am proud to see House Bill 465, the Autism Missing Person Alert System Act, pass unanimously out of the House Human Relations and Aging Committee,' said Rep. Gilliard. 'This is a vital step forward in ensuring that individuals with autism spectrum disorder, who may be at increased risk of going missing, are given the attention and resources they deserve. I applaud the committee for their dedication to advancing this important legislation, and I look forward to seeing it continue its journey through the legislative process to better protect our most vulnerable citizens. I would also like to extend my thanks to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for their hard work and collaboration in helping to shape this legislation.' HB 465 will now be considered by the House Rules Committee. You can read the full bill here: 20252026-232492Download Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
