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Ashley Caldwell

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The Memphis “Black List” Targets 84 Community Members!

Last Friday, February 17th 2017, it was brought to the attention of the Mid-South Peace & Justice Center that the City of Memphis and the Memphis Police Department had a secret surveillance list, which has been popularly referred to as the Memphis Black List. The list is made up of 84 people, some of which are social justice advocates and activists, community organizers, former city employees, and Mary Stewart -the mother of 19 year old Darrius Stewart who was killed by Officer Connor Schilling in the summer of 2015. How and why this list was formed is still a mystery to all -apart from our City Mayor, Jim Strickland, and Memphis Police Director, Michael Rallings.

Though Mayor Strickland has pretty consistently claimed to not have knowledge of the list, and that it was carried over from the former administration (which can be read here), he also admits to signing part of the list. You can see the list in full for yourself below. Despite the story breaking only last week, many have already spoken out about whether or not the Strickland Administration, and Memphis Police Department, are legally able to create such lists for surveillance of citizens. Among those to speak out was Attorney Bruce Kramer, who stated: “…the list may violate a federal court order issued in 1978 in response to a lawsuit he litigated on behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union. The consent decree banned political surveillance following revelations the department spied on civil rights activists, war protesters and other “radicals” for years.” (Read more here.)

If you are interested in aiding the Mid-South Peace & Justice Center in its efforts to explore the legality of the “Black List” with legal representatives, please donate here.

We would also strongly encourage you to reach out to Mayor Strickland on behalf of your 84 community neighbors under surveillance, let him know what you think of his secret surveillance list, and demand a logical answer about its creation. All of his contact information is listed below.

Mayor Jim Strickland
City Hall
125 N. Main St. Room 700
Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 636-6000
mayor@memphistn.gov
twitter: @MayorMemphis

To follow more on the Memphis Black List here are a list of links to news coverage:
http://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/local/2017/02/22/city-officials-decline-release-reason-blacklist/98260186/
http://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/government/city/2017/02/21/mpds-michael-rallings-defends-city-hall-blacklist/98191200/
https://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2017/feb/21/city-hall-list-controversy-deepens-with-questions-about-police-surveillance/
http://www.fox13memphis.com/top-stories/fox13-investigates-secret-surveillance-of-black-lives-matter-protesters/495898435
https://www.youtube.com/embed/eZhjwfpKXmk
http://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/columnists/david-waters/2017/02/20/waters-gangsta-grammie-makes-city-hall-escort-list/98147540/​​​​​​​
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/2/17/1635130/-Memphis-Mayor-Police-Publish-Political-Black-List-Even-Mother-of-a-Child-Killed-by-Police​​​​​​​
http://www.wmcactionnews5.com/clip/13113325/mpd-releases-list-of-those-on-memphis-city-halls-blacklist?autostart=true

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MSPJC’s Juvenile Justice Program Live @ 9

This week, Mid-South Peace & Justice Center organizer, Paul Garner was a guest on WREG Ch 3’s Live @ 9 to discuss Memphis United’s Juvenile Justice Project.  In partnership with Shelby County Juvenile Court, Mid-South Peace & Justice Center is working to build networks of churches and organizations to address our high number of youth offenders and the lack of opportunities for court ordered community service, specifically in the areas of Hickory Hill & Bartlett.

If your organization would like to partner with Juvenile Court to provide opportunities for our young people, please take a minute to fill out this form, by clicking here: https://tinyurl.com/juvenilejusticeproject

For more information, contact Paul Garner: paul@midsouthpeace.org or (901)725-4990

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Comunidades Unidas en Una Voz’s Letter to Mayor Strickland, Mayor Luttrell & Sheriff Oldham

December 15, 2016

To the Honorable Mayor,  

Due to collaboration between local and federal law enforcement, President Obama’s administration deported a record 2.5 million immigrants. This has happened while southern states have approved xenophobic laws in the last few years. Persecution of immigrant communities is facilitated by racial profiling and prejudice that remains to be acknowledged, and the resulting anti­-immigrant climate promotes wage theft and labor violations. As a result, the Memphis multi-­cultural and multi-­ethnic immigrant community feels particularly targeted.

Anti-­immigrant sentiment has increased during the Obama administration and shows signs of worsening with the incoming administration. Our worry grows due to the statements that

President-­elect Donald Trump has made during his electoral campaign actively targeting Muslims, women, LGBTQIA+ people, migrants, and people of color. As the highest executive of our county, we ask that you defend our city as a place that values and protects all of its members, regardless of race, nationality, religion, or immigration status. Additionally, we are sending a similar letter to Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland and hope that this be a collaborative effort of both city and county.

In fact, at the November 10th meeting at El Mercadito, Mayor Strickland assured us that the

Memphis Police Department (MPD) does not cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, and that currently MPD officers do not ask anyone questions about residence status. Are these policies also reflected within Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO)? If not, we ask that they be adjusted by instructing SCSO deputies to not cooperate with ICE and not to ask residence status questions. We also ask you to reject indiscriminate deportations, which often result in family and community separations. Specifically, we ask that you take the following concrete steps to ensure that the SCSO does not become another arm of the President’s deportation force:

  1. Adopt and implement formal policies to require the SCSO to cease collaboration with ICE and disallow any collateral arrests for immigration enforcement purposes;
  2. Re­affirm publicly that SCSO shall not detain anyone for civil immigration violations, shall refuse to collaborate with ICE in any capacity, and shall require ICE officers to produce a criminal warrant against a specific person prior to entering SCSO facilities, including the County Jail.  
  3. Direct the SCSO to adopt written policies regarding item 2 above;
  4. Issue a formal request to the current and future federal administrations that fingerprints taken by the SCSO during booking be used only for criminal background checks, and for no other purposes, including civil immigration enforcement;
  5. Re­affirm Shelby County’s commitment to assist in the prosecution of wage theft, labor violations and other crimes committed against immigrants, regardless of immigration status;
  6. Commit that no local authority shall request information about or otherwise investigate the immigration status of any person; and
  7. Oppose any registry based on religious identity or national origin.
  8. Commit that the SCSO will not apply for any federal grant that requires cooperation with ICE.
  9. Finally, we request an in­person meeting to explain and discuss our concerns in more detail. Please respond to Comunidades Unidas en Una Voz, c/o Mid­South Peace and

Justice Center, 3573 Southern Ave, Memphis, TN 38111 , or by e­mail to cuuv.memphis@gmail.com  by Monday, January 9th, 2017.  

We look forward to, and thank you, for working together to ensure that Shelby County joins the numerous communities around the nation that have acted to stand by and support those most targeted by the current hostile environment1 . If we are to preserve Shelby County as a diverse, welcoming community in which the civil and human rights of all residents are respected, we must act now.  

Sincerely,  

Comunidades Unidas en Una Voz (CUUV)  

and other organizations:

Coalition for Concerned Citizens  

Detention Watch Network

Indigenous and Hispanic Student Association  

Manna House

Memphis A. Phillip Randolph Institute

Mid­South Immigration Advocates

Mid­South Latino Chamber of Commerce  

Mid­South Peace and Justice Center

Youth and Police Relations cohort at BRIDGES Inc. CHANGE

Workers Interfaith Network

Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region

Muslims in Memphis

Pax Christi Memphis

Tennesee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC)

1  Since the presidential election, city elected officials and community advocates have responded by creating or strengthening welcoming cities policies.  
http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle­news/politics/seattle­will­remain­sanctuary­city­for­immigrants­despite­trumppresidency­mayor­says/
http://www.sfexaminer.com/mayor­lee­sf­will­remain­sanctuary­city­despite­trump­presidency/ http://fortune.com/2016/11/11/new­york­los­angeles­sanctuary­cities­donald­trump/ http://fusion.net/story/370130/los­angeles­second­week­student­walkouts/
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us­news/sanctuary­cities­vow­protect­immigrants­trump­plan­n684551

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Streetwise Ink Update

It’s been a really exciting month for Streetwise Ink! After much research and deliberation, Streetwise has finally decided on the business model that will work best for our vision and goals. We are also moving forward with the creation of all the manuals, training, and legal paperwork involved in the process toward incorporating! In addition to the news of our progression, we are super ecstatic to have gotten in some much needed training and practice making the Mid-south Peace & Justice Center’s limited edition “Necessary Troublemaker” t-shirts! More updates to come as Streetwise Ink continues to venture into the screen printing business while creating jobs our awesome friends in HOPE (Homeless Organizing of Power & Equality). 

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Memphis United: Youth in Action

Memphis United has expanded its work with young people over the past month, collaborating with Theatre Memphis, and their teaching fellowship at Rhodes College. Every week, the fellowship of six young women works with a theatre class at Central High School. Memphis United has been helping to provide local context through conversations with the students about complex social justice issues that they create responses to, using movement and spoken word. At the end of the semester, the students will hold a public performance to benefit the Mid-South Peace & Justice Center’s work with youth.

Melrose High SchoolIn addition, Memphis United also performed a Know Your Rights Theatre workshop a diversely talented group of young people including writers, rappers, spoken word performers, dancers, and musicians that Theatre Memphis has been working with at Melrose High School. Memphis United is working with these students to help facilitate a youth led project that will produce a music and spoken word album in response to  the contents of the Know Your Rights Workshops that Memphis United has performed with close to a thousand young people in the Memphis Area.

This album will highlight the talents of the students at Melrose and will include a “Know Your Rights Rap” single to bring the information in the workshops to a wider audience via social media and distribution of the album, which will also include an insert booklet spotlighting the artists, and outlining information about young people’s rights when interacting with law enforcement. The group plans to hold a showcase event to release the album along with a video for the single.

This collaboration is part of Memphis United’s overarching goal to establish grassroots networks of youth led efforts to advance peer to peer education and organizing around issues that directly affect our young people, and will segway into Memphis United’s Juvenile Justice Project, which will develop neighborhood based projects lead by young people with unfulfilled community service hours. We believe that no amount of education or empathy can equal the experiences of those most affected by an issue. They are the experts. They have the solutions. To address the issue of youth violence and crime, we have to engage with those most affected by the issue… young people.

Youth are not the problem, they are the SOLUTION!

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Bring Back Our 31 Crosstown!

GREETINGS TRANSIT WARRIORS!

The RIDER newsletter is currently under construction. We apologize for our absence and for the bad formatting. We will be back to normal by the end of the week!

In the mean time:

Join ATU Local 713 and the Memphis Bus Riders Union as we launch our campaign to restore the 31 Crosstown!

The Memphis Bus Riders Union and Amalgamated Transit Union Local 713 are launching a new campaign with a petition to restore the 31 Crosstown, a historic bus route eliminated by Memphis Area Transit Authority in 2013. The two groups represent hundreds of MATA drivers and riders who say that “the route was a lifeline” for under served neighborhoods in North and South Memphis.

The campaign hopes to revive MATA’s ridership by restoring the service that current riders want. Willie Barber, Business Agent for Local 713 says that public opinion of MATA can be repaired by reinstating the 31.

“Any bus rider will tell you how important this route is. MATA’s own reports show the 31 Crosstown had the third highest daily ridership of all the routes, about 2,600 passengers a day. Because it went into the neighborhoods of Riverside and New Chicago, areas where many households have no vehicle, and connected those residents with resources as well as other major routes in Midtown.” he said.

 

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Join the Fight to Save Bus Service!

This month, MBRU will NOT be meeting at the Cossitt Library. Instead we’ll be joining ATU Local 713 at a town hall meeting to discuss how bus cuts and route consolidation negatively affect underserved communities in Memphis. The town hall will take place from 11 AM to 1:30 PM at Gaston Community Center, 1046 South Third Street.  
Thousands of citizens in Memphis rely on bus service to get to school, work, medical care, and other daily needs. In the past decade, the removal of bus routes like the 31 Crosstown have disproportionately affected low-income and historically black neighborhoods like New Chicago and Riverside, where the need for public transit is most pressing.
“Any time you remove infrastructure from a community, you kill the neighborhood, and then you force people into poverty. We need transportation, and we need these communities to be vibrant.” –ATU local rep Terry Moss
ATU Local 713 represents MATA’s bus and trolley operators, mechanics, laborers, and information specialists. We partnered with ATU this past April for our #BusCrisis campaign seeking more city funding for new buses, which resulted in a $7.5 million increase for MATA’s budget this fiscal year. Now, we’re setting our sights on restoring bus service in areas like North and South Memphis, where cuts have most affected quality of life for black residents.
“It’s just a lose-lose situation for the public when we’ve got to get out theres and routes are constantly being cut.” –ATU local rep Fred Williams
We hope to see you there!

*Remember that we are NOT meeting at Cossitt Library this month. Please help spread the word!

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Finally, Justice for Gobal Ministries!

Finally, Justice for Global Ministries Foundation!

Federal Agents Execute Search Warrant at Global Ministries Foundation Headquarters & Other Properties (click the previous link to read the Commercial Appeal article)

We have been warning our leaders about this….‪#‎DryKatrina‬

Consider that this relocation is going on at the SAME TIME as hundreds of tenants from the Warren and Tulane apartments are also receiving vouchers as well. Significant numbers of residents from Warren,Tulane and Foote are still struggling to find alternative housing..and for what? As we warned…consider the absurdity that we are preparing to destroy hundreds of units of housing during a potential housing crisis.

We call for a delay in the planned demolition of Foote homes until all residents at FOOTE,WARREN AND TULANE have been able to safely relocate and further that such demolition be delayed until the promised 448 NEW units of HUD subsidized housing replacing Warren and Tulane is set up and online.

Gentrification is not just a word..but it’s a form of economic oppression that has REAL and lasting negative impact on the lives of families….and usually families of color.‪#‎RenterPower‬!

-Renters Rights Project

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Get Out the Vote Workshop

How can you and your neighbors effectively organize to make sure the candidates are embracing your issues? At the GOTV training you will learn how to organize a Get Out The Vote operation in your own neighborhood.

The City of Memphis elections for Mayor, City Council and City Court Clerk are but a few months away and across the city candidates for office are gearing up their campaigns and seeking your support.

  • How can you and your neighbors effectively organize to make sure the candidates are embracing your issues?
  • How can you and your community create your own agenda and how can you and your community turn out the vote to ensure victory?
  • How can you and your community most effectively support the candidate of your choice?

At the GOTV training you will learn how to organize a Get Out The Vote operation in your own neighborhood.

You will receive training in all the basic skills that you will need to be able to effectively..

  • Register Voters
  • Door-To-Door Canvassing
  • Phone Banking
  • Precinct Organizing

Your community’s vote is part of your community’s power. Use it and the candidates will come to you seeking YOUR SUPPORT.

Date: Thursday, July 30th

Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Please be on time.
Location: 450 Mulberry St. Memphis, TN 38103  Links Education Center, National Civil Rights Museum. Wheelchair accessible
Cost: $20-$45 Sliding scale.

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Mark Your Calendars! Summer Public Workshops

Community organizer training is about unveiling the mainstream power dynamics that exist to keep marginalized people “in their place,” and then realizing that we have the power to bring those dynamics into balance.
We can’t and shouldn’t sit back and wait for those in authority to make changes for us. We know best what our communities need. The most powerful and lasting way for change to occur is by doing it ourselves.
Mid-South Peace and Justice Center’s training program,Grassroots Organizer Training for Power, expands our community’s capacity to create social change through building skills in grassroots organizing, providing support to people doing community work, and offering oppression awareness and liberation education.
What can we offer you?
  • Trainings and workshops can be designed specifically for any kind of group in a variety of formats including comprehensive weekend workshops on specific issues and skill sets.
  • Trainings in Spanish are also available upon request. We work and collaborate with bilingual trainers and facilitators.
  • Click HERE to see the wide variety of workshops and trainings we offer.
  • Training and workshop fees are negotiable, scholarships are available, and donations for scholarships are greatly appreciated.

 

Want to help transform your community? Join our monthly giving program #MyMSPJC Sustainers!