This week, Memphis United mailed 176 letters to people the City of Memphis referred to the Civilian Law Enforcement Review Board between 2011 and 2013 — when the board did not exist.
There are more individuals who we will contact in the coming weeks. These individuals are part of a larger “backlog” of people the city referred to a nonexistent board. All of these people deserve a fair shot at justice. That means having a CLERB with the power to hold law enforcement accountable; that means subpoena power.
Last year, Memphis United won our campaign to reinstate the board and strengthen it with a subpoena process. But now the subpoena process is in danger of being removed through a substitute ordinance by Councilman Worth Morgan.
We’re asking people to contact their City Council representatives — in particularDistrict 5 Councilman Worth Morgan, Worth.Morgan@memphistn.gov, (901) 636-6786) — and tell them that taking the time to understand the language of the ordinance is worth it to ensure that CLERB has the power to hold law enforcement accountable.
Memphis United is MSPJC’s criminal justice reform project. Our victories include the reinstatement of a civilian law enforcement review board. But we need your help. Please click here to sustain our work toward law enforcement accountability.