Tallahassee approves police review board appointee who works with anti-police group

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Tallahassee City Commission nominated and approved an appointee for the Citizens Review Police Board who works as a political advisor for an organization that has called for the abolishment of police, prisons and punishment.

Malik Ready was appointed without a vote by the board after being nominated by Commissioner Jeremy Matlow Wednesday.

Ready told Florida’s Voice before the commission meeting that he was reapplying for the position on the board after previously being removed for not following through with the compliance requirements that all applicants must fulfill in order to remain members.

He explained that when he was first approved for the board, the meetings were not consistent. Because of this, he believed it was not necessary to follow through with the compliance expectations.

The requirements included participation in a diversity, equity and inclusion course, as well as three separate ride-alongs of at least two hours each with Tallahassee police officers.

“I see so much injustice going on and our policing is a problem,” Ready said. “First of all, the culture of policing started around making sure black and brown folks that run away from slavery were caught.”

“We need to make sure that we don’t continue to target those of the black and brown community, who are the highest ones in our jail system, especially in […] Leon County,” he added.

Ready, a lifelong Tallahassee resident, is a political advisor for the openly socialist, anti-police organization called Dream Defenders, that calls for a “world without prisons, policing, surveillance and punishment.”

The activist group formed in 2012, following the death of Trayvon Martin. They claim to fight against many injustices, including antisemitism. The organization simultaneously supports the state of Palestine in their marches and rallies.

“Police and prisons have no place in ‘justice.’ Police and prisons aren’t just racist but they work to enforce the separations of rich and poor,” the group argued. “True safety can’t be found where it was never meant to be. We deserve real safety in our cities, our states, our homes, our schools; our workplaces, and our community centers.”

Ready explained that he didn’t have a problem with specific police officers, but the police system as a whole.

“I think the most important thing is to make sure that those in the black and brown communities get treated equally and not continue to get their heads beaten in and knees on their neck,” he said.

Ready added that he believes people are quick to assume several concerns with him having worked as an activist. Dream Defenders is known to be left leaning and want a world without policing.

Dream Defenders wants an “end to the current prison and policing system including immediate banning of bail and probation and reinvestment of the money spent on prisons and police into social services in our community that address the root causes of poverty and violence.”

However, Ready does not see his activism as an issue.

“Malik is not just a completely radical person,” Ready said about himself. “Malik wants to make sure he sees his community thrive 110%.”

The city commission unanimously approved updated definitions and outlines for the review board in August, following a controversial removal of a member who openly displayed anti-police messaging on a drink mug during one of the meetings.

The revisions detailed the need for the board members to “fair” and “unbiased” when reviewing and recommending actions related to police-community interactions.

Matlow said during the commission meeting that “right wing attackers” who don’t want Ready’s political views represented on the board were spreading rumors about the appointee.

“There’s been a bit of a character assignation aimed at this young gentleman in our community based on basically who he is,” Matlow said. “I just find that wholly inappropriate. His politics […] shouldn’t be the basis of saying someone shouldn’t be able to serve.”

“[Because] our board represents a wide spread of our community from different political backgrounds, age backgrounds, this is an important appointment,” he added.