Responding to Racial Tension in Your City: A Municipal Action Guide

NLC interviewed several current and former municipal leaders who have been through similar moments of crisis with racial tension. This document provides important contextual and tactical information to support a municipality’s efforts to respond effectively. It includes:

  • Definition of common values — Five common values need to be embedded in all actions in response to racial tension.
  • Insight — Lessons learned, tactics, and such additional considerations can provide direction and suggest actions municipalities can take in real time.
  • Context — Historical context that will help leadership get a more robust understanding of the situation at hand, and how the event may uncover deep-rooted issues that the municipality can address.
  • Checklists — Practical checklists ensure that you have some of the more critical components in place to respond: 1) Direction to leadership in the immediate response to the crisis; 2) Guidance on a crisis communications protocol; 3) Guidance on stakeholder identification and engagement; 4) Guidance on how to continue the work of advancing racial equity post-incident.