A Georgia police department has issued an apology after photos and video shared by the department showed officers using shooting targets with photos of a Black man during a gun safety class.
The apology was quickly criticized, with commentators asking why the targets only featured a Black man despite the package allegedly including multiple ethnicities. The Carroll County NAACP also issued a response on Wednesday.
"The 'apology' statement from your department via Facebook displays a lack of sincerity, sensitivity toward minority residents and makes it abundantly clear that your department lacks the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion that all local officials should strive to participate in," wrote Dominique Conteh, the president of the Carroll County branch, in a letter shared on Facebook. "We believe that DEI training would've given more insight as to the reasoning as to why those targets are 'unacceptable and deemed racist.'"
Conteh said the NAACP is requesting a meeting with the department's police chief, the Villa Rica mayor, the city manager and city councilwoman. There has not been any update from the organization since the request was issued.
Georgia NAACP President Gerald Griggs echoed the sentiments of the Carroll County NAACP and supports their request for an immediate meeting with the City of Villa Rica Leadership.