FOURTEEN community groups representing black and minority ethnic people in Northern Ireland say they will not engage with a taskforce aimed at discussing the policing of a Black Lives Matter (BLM) protest in Belfast.
In a letter to the NI Policing Board, the groups say "such an engagement would not be possible until the problems arising from the 6 June are openly acknowledged and addressed and the demands the community has made are met".
It comes after the PSNI's approach to the BLM demonstration in Belfast in June drew criticism with members of the north's BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) community facing the prospect of serious criminal charges in connection with the event.
A recommendation to establish a taskforce with representatives of the community to discuss the policing of the protest was recently suggested by the Policing Board.
However, in a letter to the board, endorsed by the 14 groups, they say changes are needed before that engagement could take place.
They acknowledged that the PSNI chief constable Simon Byrne has "made several efforts to react out to various communities, including holding two meetings on 9 June and 30 June 2020, as well as efforts on establishing a working group".
But they said: "Our response has been consistent and unequivocal - until the chief constable and his colleagues are prepared to acknowledge the problem of PSNI's racism and its unequal treatment of Black and Minority ethnic people there is no point in us participating in any such group or taskforce".
They said a "clear acknowledgement of the problems that have arisen" at the protest was needed "if we are to work together".
"Our trust of the PSNI and meaningful collaboration, depends significantly on a public apology for the discriminatory policing of 6 June 2020 BLM protests, and the cancellation of fines, cautions and referrals for prosecution against organisers and protesters," they said.
