News

On August 4th, in a show of political pandering, The City Council postponed the final vote on important common sense legislation to strengthen the Civilian Law Enforcement Review Board (CLERB) until after the elections! This is simply unacceptable!

This motion was sponsored by Berlin Boyd and supported by the votes of William Boyd, Joe Brown, Kemp Conrad, Edmund Ford Jr, Reid Hedgepeth and Bill Morrison.

Harold Collins, Alan Crone, Janis Fullilove, Wanda Halbert, Jim Strickland, and Myron Lowery voted against the delays, and we thank them. However, we hope they are urging their colleagues to bring the vote back before elections as well.

PLEASE Call your Councilperson at (901) 636-6786 or email them and urge them to take the vote before the elections! Transparency & Accountability shouldn’t have to wait on political agendas. Our elected officials have failed to address these issues seriously and it’s now up to uto make sure police accountability is a priority!

“As we enter the final stretch of this campaign, we need your support more than ever!”

Following a string of incidents in 2012 and 2013 involving police harassment, excessive force, and arrests made while people were filming police, Memphis United assisted individuals involved with filing complaints through Internal Affairs and used this opportunity to document the process for filing complaints against officers, a process which presented numerous barriers that prevent average civilians from filing or seeing the investigation through to the end. Once an Internal Affairs investigation has been completed, unsatisfied complainants are supposed to be able to appeal to the Civilian Law Enforcement Review Board, created by ordinance of the City Council in 1994 after MPD officers shot and killed a 68 year old resident of Orange Mound.

The board was created as “an independent, non-police Mayoral Agency with…the power to receive, investigate, hear cases, make findings and recommend action on complaints,” but from the start, it was clear that there were obstacles to the board being able to function as intended. Before passage, elments critical to CLERB’s success were removed from the ordinance. Without the power to subpoena documents, records, or additional testimony from officers, and without dedicated staff to conduct dedicated investigations, it quickly became apparent that CLERB ability to investigate complaints was entirely dependent upon the willful cooperation of MPD. Officers would be summoned and without consequence, would refuse to participate. CLERB had trouble obtaining relavant documents and policies to inform their work from the department.

Once complainants were notified of the completion of Internal Affairs’ investigations, members of Memphis United attempted to contact the Civilian Law Enforcement Review Board. Calls were made to a number listed on the description of CLERB posted to the City of Memphis website. Voicemails seeking appeal of the complaints before CLERB went unreturned. Open records requests filed to obtain CLERB’s minutes from the past several years revealed something even more troubling-the board hadn’t met to review a complaint since 2011. The board had been quietly disbanded uner the Wharton administration without notice to the public or City Council, a violation of City Ordinance. Once this was brought to the attention of the public by the Memphis United Coalition, the Mayor’s office quickly scrambled to make new appointments, while sending mixed messages to the public, clamining the board was still in existance. While the Mayor’s office was busy making new appointments, Memphis United drafteda resolution which passed unanimously through council, empowering MU to do reseach on national best practices and hold a series of townhalls in each council district to gather public input.

Memphis United spent the next year surveying the public and researching review boards in other cities, and recently delivered their findings to the City Council in the form of a detailed report which was delivered to the full council in February 2015. Based on these findings Memphis United proceeded in drafting an ordinance to amend and strengthen the Civilian Law Enforcement Review Board, and finally givie the board subpoena power and dedicated staff, among other things. Despite public oposition from MPD and the Police Uniion leadership, In April 2015, MU’s ordinance made it before committee, and was passed to go before the full Council . As with any ordinance, three readings are required before the final vote and ther must be at least 7 votes in favor for it to pass.

CALL TO ACTION

We have recently learned that our final reading is set for Tuesday, July 7th. While we are working hard to nail down the seven votes needed, we have reached a moment in this campaign where public support is more critical than ever. During final reading, the ordinance will be discussed by council, amendments will be taken, etc. The public is invited to pull comment cards, and given two minutes to speak on any issue up for discussion. We need YOU to join and support us at City Hall (125 N Main Street), July 7th, at 3:30PM and help insure the safe passage of an important piece of legislation with more than 20 years in the making.

Individuals can make a big difference NOW by contacting their City Councilpersons and urging them to support Memphis United’s recommendations for a stronger, more just Civilian Law Enforcement Review Board. We have created a simple webased tool at memphisunited.org that allows you to quickly contact all of your City Council people at once–check it out, then get your friends and family to do the same!

Organizations can help support these efforts by drafting formal letters of support to the full Council. You can also assist by encouraging your members to attend Council with us on Tues, July 7th.

For more information, please contact Organizing Coordinator, Paul Garner, paul@midsouthpeace.org or (901) 725-4990.
facebook.com/memphisunited  @Memphis_United

For the past year, the Memphis Bus Riders Union has worked with riders and MATA staff to develop a vision for improving the Will Hudson Transit Center downtown, commonly known as the North End Terminal. This vision has been collected into a 16-page report that outlines a list of concrete recommendations, spanning five issue areas: Safety, Sanitary Conditions, Customer Service, Public Engagement, and Quality of Life. MBRU will present this report to the MATA board during their June board meeting, and ideally they will set aside funding specifically for renovating the terminal. For more information and to see the full report, click here.

While gathering material for this report, it’s become obvious that the conditions at the terminal promote a separate and unequal system that has favored trolleys for tourism, while neglecting the needs of daily bus riders. Conditions inside and outside the terminal are not only unsanitary, but also unwelcoming. For example, there are 19 signs inside and outside of the station that say “No panhandling, no loitering, no soliciting” but not a single sign on the side of the station that faces the trolley stop. The trolley side of the building also has nice trash cans and landscaping. Moreover, contracted security guards are enforcing a “no sagging” rule which is not a law or a MATA policy. One white guard has even been accused of shouting racial slurs.

Since the report was drafted, we’ve seen it covered by WREG 3, the Commercial Appeal, and the Memphis Flyer. A MATA spokesperson’s response to WREG’s recent report on the unsanitary conditions was that “people who use the facility need to treat it better,” which is laughable when millions of dollars have been poured into Central Station and the trolleys and no substantial renovations have been recently done to the North End Terminal. As a matter of fact, MATA knows that improvements are needed; MATA board member Chooch Pickard said about the bathrooms, “It’s horrible. It’s like third-world conditions.” We’ve also seen some changes happen already: the bathrooms have new floors and have been repainted, and a mop bucket of old bleach water that was next to the vending machines has been conspicuously moved from its usual spot.

But there’s still an uphill battle left: presenting the report to MATA at their June board meeting and getting it adopted. Be on the lookout for more updates from MBRU, and come out to our meeting on June 13!

 

Recent incidents such as the so-called Kroger “Youth Mob” and a similar occurrence at a Midtown gas station has sparked many conversations within the community about how to address the real issues of youth violence and crime. Sadly, many of these conversations have focused on playing into a media narrative that is filled with negative images of our young people along with fear-based and overly punitive solutions which in turn paint our young people with a broad brush as aberrant, aggressive, and hyper-violent. In the face of fear-based messages and images, a community looking for real solutions can often be led astray into pursuing harsher tactics which serve to further institutionalize our youth into the criminal justice system and do not address the root causes of crime.

We as a community must recognize that crime is a very real and very valid concern. At MSPJC, the core of our organizing philosophy is that, to find a solution to an issue, one must organize with those most affected by that issue.  In all the discussions and plans and various meetings about how to address the youth crime issue, no one has asked those most affected by the problem: our youth.

How can we solve the issue without the voice of young people being involved in a meaningful way? How can we stop treating our youth as a threat and instead work with youth to create lasting and positive solutions.  Simple: we ask them.

 

On Saturday, March 25^th The Mid-South Peace and Justice Center and Bridges USA, in partnership with LeMoyne Owen College and Shelby County Juvenile Court, hosted the Memphis United People’s Conference on Juvenile Justice. This event was a daylong youth-led series of workshops, trainings and dialog sessions around the issues of youth violence, youth crime and the school to prison pipeline.
Attended by over 45 area high school students, the People’s Conference on Juvenile Justice was designed as a launch pad for the first steps of building a sustainable youth led and youth directed grassroots movement to directly address issues of highest priority to our youth. Students, from a variety of schools were in attendance and were joined by young people who were allowed to serve their court ordered community service via Shelby County juvenile count by attending the conference.

Workshop topics included such subjects as Peer mediation and nonviolent conflict resolution, Know Your Rights Trainings and an introduction to community organizing. Each of these areas were designed and facilitated by some incredible young people working as members of the BRIDGE BUILDERS program of BRIDGES USA. Having these workshops and discussions in this way allowed young people present to speak freely about their thoughts and struggles on the subject and begin a conversation about real solutions that they can take the led on creating and directing.

Some of the outcomes of this event were the creation of a Memphis United Juvenile Justice committee made up not only of youth who helped organize the conference but open to all of those who participated in it as well. This group will be meeting monthly to debrief about the issues raised and begin working towards building campaigns for systemic change, while planning a second People’s Conference on Juvenile Justice set for August 22^nd. In addition, the group will be working with the Shelby County Juvenile court to perform outreach in the communities with the highest concentration of young people who need service hours to create community partnerships to provide meaningful service opportunities within the young people’s own neighborhoods. Finally, members will be trained on how to host “Know Your Rights” and Peer Mediation/conflict resolution workshops for youth by youth and within their own communities.

If we allow fear to control us, then we view our youth as a problem that must be mitigated instead of as a partner for progress. We cannot address the issue of youth violence or police accountability without also working with those most affected to have community based alternatives to crime, arrest and incarceration.

We at the MSPJC look forward to following their leadership.

If you are interested in joining the Memphis United Juvenile Justice Committee, please contact Brad Watkins at Brad@midsouthpeace.org.

H.O.P.E. Garden Crew has a funny idea – let’s all hang out together.
We believe there is no better way to build a movement than by first sharing in what makes each other happy. So this summer, we thought: movies! Our little 1.4 acre community garden has been approved for an ioby.org limited-time matching fund: from now until April 15, kind souls who donate up to $150 will have every dollar doubled! We are so hoping to reach our $2096 goal in time. Here is the link: https://www.ioby.org/project/movie-nights-community-garden

From May to October, we hope to offer an estimated 21 screenings to approximately 500 guests who might never meet each other, otherwise. Discussions and community announcements to be held afterward.

[NOTE: Mosquitoes will most assuredly not be invited. All will be barred from entry employing every natural defense mechanism at our disposal. Sorry, mosquitoes.]

We are also offering a choice of any of these sparkling, one-of-a-kind conversation pieces to those who donate:
– $25: a delicious bag of popcorn in a flavor of your choice* plus your name in the program.
– $50: a delicious bag of popcorn in a flavor of your choice*, as well as front-row seating at an upcoming film night plus your name in the program.
– $75: a delicious bag of popcorn in a flavor of your choice*, front-row seating at an upcoming film night, your name in the program, and a special privilege to help determine the film screening schedule!
–$100:  a delicious bag of popcorn in a flavor of your choice*, front-row seating at an upcoming film night, your name in the program, a special privilege to help determine the film screening schedule, and a COMMEMORATIVE brick on the WBCG mural with a message of your choosing.

* (Seriously, if it exists as a flavor, we’ll make it for you – brown sugar, sriracha, garlic parmesan, orange creamsicle, wasabi? You name it.)

Check out our fundraising page and see how it’s going!: https://www.ioby.org/project/movie-nights-community-garden

Last month, Training for Change and G.O.T. Power, MSPJC’s training program had their annual Training for Trainers in Memphis TN.

A total of 20 participants form 8 different states and Mid-South Areas were part of this extensive training of 20+ hours.
Training for Change is an organization providing quality training of trainers for the last 20 years. We, TFC and MSPJC, know that good training makes good movement building and our movements, now more than ever, need the support of good trainers! That’s why we bring to Memphis a training of trainers specifically for folks doing grassroots movement building, leading campaigns that build community power and tackle systemic inequality. People who have taken this training have made a difference in confronting institutionalized racism, moving immigrant rights forward and building the economic and environmental justice movement.

Here is the insight of Evan Morrison, a TSAT 2015 participant:

So, let me start off by saying that first and foremost, the Training for Social Action Trainers (TSAT) is a must for anyone wishing to become a skilled facilitator, or social organizer. With that said, here is why. The TSAT is an excellent workshop, whether you are skilled at facilitating or brand new to organizing, because places you in an environment where you can observe, question, and employ techniques and tools that are vital to being effective. The workshop not only provides you with tools to aid in whatever work you do, from community organizing to every day meetings, but also allows for you to see how those tools can elicit different responses depending on the context.
Context is another reason why this workshop is so beneficial. You get to experience the training with people from all kinds of places, and backgrounds. Everyone brings their own style, and you get to see how each tool can be used in a way you never would have thought of because the content of your work tends to go in other directions. You might still be wondering what happens in a TSAT workshop, and that’s fine: you just have to find out yourself!

Coming up from the GOT Power Training Department:

UPDATE: On April 7th, City Council postponed any action on our CLERB ordinance until April 21st! What will likely (or hopefully) happen is, our ordinance will be discussed once more, pass through committee, and according to Flinn go before the full council the same day for first reading, which keeps us on track with our ideal timeline.

Remember, to pass an ordinance or an amendment to a current ordinance, it takes three readings before the full council and seven votes of support. Which means if we pass through committee and go downstairs for first reading on April 21st, the second reading will be on Tues. May 5th, and (unless it gets delayed for some reason), our final reading will be May 19th, which is when we’ll really need a groundswell of community support. So, there is basically a six week process we’re navigating. In the meantime, we’ll be reaching out to organizations for letters of support and still ask our supporters to call and/or email their City Council representatives to encourage them to support the CLERB ordinance.

Memphis United has been working for the better part of two years to reestablish Memphis’ Civilian Law Enforcement Review Board with the powers necessary to effectively hold law enforcement accountable to civilians when they file a complaint against an officer. The board was created by ordinance of the Council in 1994 after the controversial death at the hands of the Memphis Police Department, but it didn’t have subpoena power or the ability to compel the participation of officers in an investigation. In 2008, Council Woman Fullilove called for an audit of MPD’s complaint process after video surfaced showing the savage beating of Duanna Johnson in police custody. The audit came back in 2009 and a resolution was passed to form an ad-hoc committee to make recommendations to the Council on how to improve the Review Board. That committee never met. After Memphis United discovered that the CLERB had been quietly disbanded around 2011 by the Wharton Administration, new appointments to the board were quickly made, and in May of 2014, The Council unanimously adopted Memphis United’s Resolution, empowering us to do the work the committee never did in 2009, collecting public input and best practices to inform an amended ordinance to empower the CLERB.

Read on to find out how YOU can help support this campaign!

On Tuesday, April 7th, Memphis United’s amended ordinance for a stronger Civilian Law Enforcement Review Board will go before the Personnel Committee of City Council at 8:30 AM. We are asking that everyone call the members of this committee and ask them to support stronger civilian oversight of law enforcement.

Shadows of Liberty is coming to Memphis as part of the Shadows of Liberty Coast to Coast Screening & Media Reform Action Tour and the MSPJC is hosting! Join us for a screening of Shadows of Liberty this Sunday (March 1), 4pm – 7pm, at First Congo (1000 S. Cooper – entrance through red doors in the back parking lot).

Shadows Of Liberty is dedicated to the journalists and information freedom fighters, the heroes of our time, who dedicate their lives to our right to freedom of information – the central pillar of a free society. Shadows of Liberty provides a platform for voices that have been silenced and in doing so, attempts to inspire change and accountability. This film champions the idea of an independent media where truth and integrity are the norm, not the exception.

After the screening, there will be an interactive panel discussion.
This is a free event with donations to support the Mid-South Peace & Justice Center and the Shadows of Liberty Coast to Coast Screening & Media Reform Action Tour greatly appreciated.

ABOUT SHADOWS OF LIBERTY: Shadows of Liberty reveals the extraordinary truth behind the news media: censorship, cover‐ups and corporate control. Filmmaker Jean-Philippe Tremblay takes an intrepid journey through the darker corridors of the American media landscape, where global conglomerates call the shots. For decades, their overwhelming influence has distorted news journalism and compromised its values. In highly revealing stories, renowned journalists, activists and academics give insider accounts of a broken media system. Controversial news reports are suppressed, people are censored for speaking out, and lives are shattered as the arena for public expression is turned into a private profit zone. Tracing the story of media manipulation through the years, Shadows of Liberty poses a crucial question: why have we let a handful of powerful corporations write the news?

FEATURING: Danny Glover, Julian Assange, Dan Rather, Amy Goodman, David Simon, Daniel Ellsberg, Norman Solomon, Janine Jackson, Dick Gregory, Roberta Baskin, Deepa Kumar, Jeff Cohen, Robert McChesney, John Nichols, Chris Hedges, Kristina Borjesson, and many more.

Check out the Shadows of Liberty trailer below!

Memphis Muslim Communities to Come Together for Peaceful Rally
Saturday, February 21st at the intersections of Poplar & East Parkway
3:00-6:00 pm rain or shine

The Memphis Muslim community is shocked and saddened by the tragic and senseless murders of three compassionate young Muslim Americans- Deah Barakat, his wife Yusor Abu-Salha, and her sister Razan Abu-Salha on Tuesday, February 10th 2015 in Chapel Hill. North Carolina. The community is equally shocked and saddened at national media outlet’s considerable underreporting of this most heinous crime. The Memphis Muslim community feels strongly that it is time for such hatred-fuelled crimes, as well as blatant media inattention, to end.

In light of this event we will come together in PEACEFUL solidarity in honor of the victims and their families, and also in solidarity to anyone falling victim to senseless hate crimes such as this, to mourn the loss of these young people in this what is so clearly an act of hatred and violence.

Through this rally we would like the public to know that true Islam is a religion of peace, and true Muslims are no one to fear, as we strive to practice our religion in a kind, loving and peaceful way, much like all other religious members of our community. We would like to call on our elected local officials to remember us, and to speak out on behalf of us. We would like for our brave local law enforcement agencies to protect us from ignorant crimes like these that take away the safety, security and well being of all Americans and particularly Americans whose religious beliefs may be falsely perceived and misunderstood.

Finally, we call out to our local media outlets, to ask kindly to give us and our families the fair and accurate representation that any peaceful religious community deserves, such that the representation could help put an end to the severe misrepresentation our religion suffers. This broad, national media misrepresentation leads us to apprehension and fear which we often feel in our own communities on a day to day basis, yet we have faith that our local media can accurately represent us to our own community as a community valuing faith, service, honesty and compassion.

Muslims and non-Muslims, religious or secular, let us come together in remembrance and share a peaceful message with our community that we are ready for the hate to stop.

Contact
Questions or more information, contact:
Leslie Salama at 901-831-1882 or salama.leslie@gmail.com

If you’re a supporter of Memphis United and the MSPJC’s work around criminal justice reform, we need YOU to ACT TODAY and call your city council representatives! (Doesn’t take more than 5-10 minutes.)

Click here http://bit.ly/1y98jaU to enter your address and find your districts. You will be in one regular district and one super district – super districts have 3 representatives, so you will have a total of 4 representatives to call.

After finding your districts, click here http://bit.ly/17mvnw3 to find your representatives’ phone number.

You will likely be asked to leave a voicemail.

Here is a script you can use, if you would like:

Hi [Councilperson Jones], my name is [Jane Doe] and my address is [123 Main Street]. I am your constituent in [District 1] and I am calling to encourage you to support Memphis United’s recommendations for a stronger Civilian Law Enforcement Review Board. Thank you!

Every call helps, so call today and then ask your friends and family to call too. Together, we can see this through!