THE OPEN WOUNDS
Less than fifty years ago during the civil rights movement, police brutalized peaceful marches and planted informants in the communities and organizations that led the movement. This relationship where the police are seen as adversaries rather than allies to certain communities and constituencies has continued through to today.The current environment between law enforcement and the community has deteriorated dramatically due to a number of factors.
*CoAct units were systematically defunded over the past ten years.
*CoAct units were placed in privileged communities, with low income and communities of color left largely out of the strategy.
* Blue CRUSH was implemented in 2005. Its aim was to pinpoint concentrations of criminal activity using data gathered from a wide array of sources. Police would then saturate that area with police resources as well as law enforcement personnel.
*As a result of these factors a large number of young people of color were stopped and many arrested and jailed, where the average time to disposition is 9-12 months.
*Finally, most police officers do not live in the area they patrol and have little contact with community members outside of negative interactions.
All of this has led to feelings of fear, mistrust and frustration on both sides of the community-police relationship.
HEALING THE BREACH
The Neighborhood Alliance is a MSPJC partnership with neighborhood and community groups and activists working collaboratively on issues of mutual interest across our city. The issues of community policing, police harassment, racial profiling and building better and stronger relationships between police and neighborhood residents were all high priorities listed by members of the Alliance in 2011. This also aids in the Alliances work to curb juvenile recidivism via outreach and community service with youth offenders.We are working to implement a citywide community-police reconciliation project to heal old wounds, prevent future harm and build respect and trust between the African-American, Latino, youth, and GLBTQ communities and local law enforcement. The project will create safe space, where project participants can learn, reflect, and build the trust necessary to move beyond exploration to action on identified
problems that have a negative impact on community-police dynamics.
The Neighborhood Alliance invites you to join us in the first of many gatherings across the community at our next general meeting on Monday, April 30th at 6:30 pm at the offices of the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center inside First Congo Church at 1000 South Cooper. Refreshments will be served.
Please come to the north rear entrance by the red double doors by the children’s playground. Ring the doorbell labeled Mid South Peace and Justice Center.
For more information please contact Organizing Coordinator Melissa Miller-Monie at 901-725-4990 or by email at Melissa@midsouthpeace.org. You can also contact Brad Watkins Organizing Director at brad@midsouthpeace.org.