Civil Rights Mediation
Oral History Project Phase I

Home | Overview | Phase I | Phase II

 

Civil Rights Mediation
Oral History Project Phase I

Home | Overview | Phase I | Phase II

 


Martin Walsh


 [Full Interview] [Topic Top]

You said that the two most difficult groups were police and university presidents. Do you have ideas on how to deal with them effectively?

Answer:
I think the hardest ones are the university presidents. Some really believe that they are a resource to the country and to the world. How dare anyone else provide assistance and be the resource. Some of them are like that. I don't know of any strategy of getting through to them other than trying to convince them that we can help them and using some of our past successes with other university presidents. With police, I think it's more the lack of an entry skill. With police, there is a reluctance to get involved. There is a defensiveness, especially when it's related to an incident of alleged misconduct. When you are on the phone following a shooting, for example, they will justify it. If you don't use proper entry, they want to cut you off. So it's a matter of being able to develop an entry strategy.







Copyright © 2000-2007
by Conflict Management Initiatives and the Conflict Information Consortium

Beyond Intractability maintains this legacy site as it was created in 2007 with only minor formatting changes made in conjunction with the posting of Phase II of the Civil RIghts Mediation project in 2025.


Copyright © 2000-2007
by Conflict Management Initiatives and the Conflict Information Consortium

Beyond Intractability maintains this legacy site as it was created in 2007 with only minor formatting changes made in conjunction with the posting of Phase II of the Civil RIghts Mediation project in 2025.