COPS grant

Opposed the COPS grant, tying it to racial profiling, ICE cooperation, and the deaths of Daquan Johnson in Grand Rapids and detention of Byron Martinez.

Thanked the city for rejecting the grant, saying the conditions on ICE sharing and executive orders conflicted with her congregation's values.

NAACP president detailed concerns with the grant's 39 conditions, including DEI and executive-order compliance language, and urged opposition if it returns.

Asked why the city doesn't hire ten more social workers instead of police officers, citing population and business data.

Argued the current federal government cannot be trusted to honor grant terms and the $1.25M local cost and ICE entanglement are too great a risk.

Lifelong Kalamazoo resident working with immigrant communities opposed the grant, described harms from data sharing, and urged community-based safety alternatives.

Called the grant 'blood money' and reminded that immigration is a civil matter handled by immigration courts.

Pastor who prays Wednesdays on City Hall steps said glad the grant is off the agenda but urged a principled refusal of federal money with unconstitutional stipulations.

Warned the grant conditions could make KDPS an arm of federal immigration enforcement and would undo community trust work.

Unhoused speaker living in his van thanked the commission for not passing the grant and warned against 'tainted money.'

K College student and Stuart neighborhood resident asked the grant be removed permanently, urged removing Flock cameras, and noted two unhoused deaths.

Asked the city to reject any federal grant requiring immigration-status data sharing with DHS, citing KDPS Policy 414.

Read a League of Women Voters statement opposing three grant conditions on immigration data sharing, DEI programs, and executive orders.

Said he supports police but opposes masked, unaccountable federal enforcement, and urged rejecting all DHS/ICE-related grants.

Thanked the commission, argued the arena shouldn't be subsidized by new officers, and quoted MLK on economic justice.

Community organizer thanked the commission for removal but said the grant should never have been considered at all.

Read a list of individuals who have died in ICE custody or actions since January 2025 and called for removal of all federal enforcement funding.

Thanked the city for finally acknowledging her neighborhood's flooding after eight years and for turning down the COPS grant.

Said she's tired of 'whack-a-mole,' questioned how the grant got as far as it did, and raised criminalization of unhoused people under Chapter 33.

Drew historical parallels to Jim Crow-era policing and asked whether KDPS rules prohibit ICE cooperation.

ISAAC member asked who on the commission will dig into how the grant application was made and reconcile it with KDPS General Order 414.

Feared the removal is 'kicking the can down the road' like March's meeting and asked the grant be rejected permanently.

New resident from Florida described witnessing ICE harm firsthand and thanked the city for removing the grant.

WMU student and self-described Dreamer asked the commission to keep listening to residents when similar language appears.

ISAAC anti-racism task force lead asked for clarity that removal isn't rescission, detailed the 39 conditions, and questioned year-four funding sustainability.

ISAAC member urged a no vote on the grant and any federal funding under the current administration, citing condition four and impacts on immigrant families.

Spoke for immigrant families living in fear and urged the commission to terminate the grant, warning of accountability for any yes votes.

Kalamazoo County Democratic Party member said accepting the grant 'puts a target on our back' by inviting federal scrutiny.

Marine veteran from Edison neighborhood told stories of ICE abuses and urged full rescission of the grant.

Criticized the commission for even considering the grant, saying it would harm Black, brown, and indigenous communities.