Well done, DA Wamp.
From what I have read about the press conference and your comments to the “community leaders” you are spot on.
Thank you.
Clayton Cornell
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I have been sickened today as a coalition of black leaders, most of whom are pastors, don’t really appear to want to help our community. Allow me to give you a recap of activity, as has been reported by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
This saga began when Celeste Murphy was chosen over our local law enforcement officers to come to Chattanooga and serve as our police chief.
Other than her professional qualifications, she was required to reside within the city limits of Chattanooga. Several of our fine law enforcement learned that she may not be playing by the rules and reported it to our District Attorney General. She did the right thing and recused herself, turning it over to the TBI. It was up to them to move forward or ignore these allegations.
After the TBI investigated, they appointed a prosecutor outside of Hamilton County, as they found what they thought to be 17 clear violations of law.
Now, as is the usual case in Chattanooga, a black coalition struts forward to play the race card. Why not, as Ms. Murphy is black, and they just can’t wait to be dividers.
Here’s where it really becomes sickening to me: the pastors in this group, regardless of their religion, have been called to serve God, and mentor/shepherd/lead us in a direction toward God. When my Savior said to love one another, He didn’t put an “if” at the end.
These folks are implicit regarding black on black crime in this city. They won’t speak out against it, and neither will the NAACP. They are nothing more than race baiting profiteers. Why won’t they speak against the overwhelming percentage of black children born to a single mother? Why won’t they speak for black fathers staying in the home to help discipline and mentor their own children? Why have abortions been overwhelmingly higher among black women?
Today’s events have made me conclude that there is no profit in it for them. It’s far easier to be a misogynist toward a white lady who had no place in any of the 17 alleged crimes. She didn’t hold the pen, didn’t sign the documents, didn’t tell anyone to lie about their residence, or have any part whatsoever. But who cares about the truth? I have to believe these “men of the cloth” don’t care.
Before the perpetual victims, such a Brenda Washington, chime in, I’ll tell you I’m a part of a biracial family and we absolutely love each other. So just keep that card in your pocket.
The bottom line is we have to solve these problems. It will only happen when our leaders play by the rules and we pull together in the same direction.
J. Pat Williams
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The DA stated her position. It is a sad shame that the Black pastors group didn’t get together with the DA in a private meeting to have productive dialogue to address problems in the interest of betterment of the community. Instead, their dialogue has the public appearance of a showdown.
Come on, DA Coty, meet with them in private, and get them on the same page. These are fine men, I mean it. Y’all both want the same things.
Shame on you, J. Pat Williams, who deems himself an expert on the Black pastors group, and dares to suggest that group is somehow targeting the “white” DA. This is a ridiculous allegation. I know a couple of those men, and they are the finest of people.
The pastors group has been in front of every DA for at least two decades to share concerns, or at the court house steps. Contrary to Mr. Williams words, the group has been at the offices of every DA, not just Coty Wamp. This statement of Mr. Williams is factually incorrect. I suggest he speak to the prior DAs.
Mr. Williams, why insult another opinion writer that has not even weighed in on the subject. Further, Brenda Washington is not a “perpetual victim,” she comes from her own experience and life that differs from your own. I want to read differing opinions, otherwise this is an echo chamber.
Please stop discouraging other opinion writers like Brenda Washington and others from weighing in on matters of community interest.
April Eidson
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District Attorney Wamp is 100 percent correct about black murders in Chattanooga. The pastors have not come to city hall to speak out on young black men killing young black men.
Bill Cook
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Kudos to DA Wamp for having the courage to say what most everyone else is thinking but won't because of political correctness.
"I don't care about your politics. He has my phone number, he has my email address, and he knows where I work. If he has something to say to me, he can come down here and say it."
Simply awesome.
Dennis Wooden
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I wish that the clergy who stood on the courthouse steps had taken the time to meet with District Attorney Wamp and discuss items of concern. It is too bad that a group of clergies stand in front of their churches on Sundays and preach of love, respect, helping others, and respect. Yet they go on TV hold a press conference and say how this was all a petty partisan and because the former police chief is a woman.
First all, the police chief should have been a local officer. We have many that are qualified. Instead, our leadership went outside the city to get someone. When she was hired, she signed forms and took an oath. She wasn't telling the truth.
Also, how can you say that crime has gone down under her leadership, when every day there is a shooting, cars getting broken into, and it seems every day there is something and I know that not everything is getting reported to the media. So, no, crime has gone down.
I am glad DA Wamp said what she did. If people would do research before telling the story they would find out that DA Wamp would have told them that she recused herself. There were complaints from Chief Murphy's own people who went to DA Wamp and that is when she recused herself. So, she didn't bring the charges, the complaints were referred to the TBI and they are the ones who brought the charges.
So, when the clergy want to accuse someone, they really need to make sure they get the correct facts. Bet some of those that voiced the complaints are ones in their own congregations.
Before you hold a press conference and accuse someone of something that wasn't done by them, get the facts correct. Before you go on TV and praise the one who is being accused, make sure the numbers and information are correct. Because standing before your congregation and accusing someone is not a good look. Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
Amy Smith
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Wow! J. Pat! I'm actually flattered to be mentioned in your rambling, incoherent diatribe. I've not kept much abreast of the recent events surrounding Chief Murphy. Thank you. Your infatuation with me is noted (sarcasm/funny).
Until reading April Eidson's response to you, I would have never known I was worthy of being mentioned by you.
Taking the bother to mention your biracial family as a cover for your "true" character is right up there with someone going on a racist tangent, then at the end bring up their "black/brown" friend. It's shallow and biased.
We all have someone in our family tree who doesn't look the same as our present physical appearance. My family is "multi-racial" racial (so I guess that tops whatever "biracial" point you were trying to make). They are Salvadoran, Hmong (Vietnamese/one a captain in the U.S. military/family were Vietnamese refugees/she lived the first four years of her life at a refugee camp in Taiwan). My multi-racial family also include present day Ethiopian, Ghanian (you know, from that African continent), Native American, German, and a host of other colorful rainbows that makes America "America!" They fought in wars. They died in wars. They "served the country and served it well." But see, J. Pat, that brown skin issue continues to creep up time to time as a reminder many still aren't fully accepted as full bloodied, patriotic Americans.
A Black airman, once returning home on leave, with his Army wife, can attest to that fact, when he was stopped, jacked up/assaulted by one of two airhead CPD cops. His only crime was WWB (walking-while-black) after dusk in the highly racially mixed community he was born into and lived all of his life prior to enlisting to "serve the country."
A shout out to Ms. April Eidson. We've crossed paths in the past, and not always on good terms. In fact, if anyone has ever gone for the jugular and knee-caps at one another, we certainly have. However, I do appreciate her speaking up and out on my behalf. I'd really not read the opinion piece until today, and certainly not J. Pat's rambling.
To April Eidson, I'm humbled.
Brenda Washington