Last week, two key events in the arena of civil rights took place within days of each other, though one received much more attention than the other. On Thursday, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder released a stinging report on the practices of the Ferguson, Missouri police department. Three days before, a presidential task force submitted a report offering recommendations for building trust between communities and the police. Here in Michigan, a sustained effort to create that sense of trust has been quietly underway for years.A group known as ALPACT is active in five Michigan cities. It stands for Advocates and Leaders for Police and Community Trust.
Current State speaks with Matt Wesaw, director of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, about his initial feelings about the Ferguson report and ALPACT.
