Group Meeting With City Council Public Safety Committee
posted November 3, 2009
A study by the local NAACP in the wake of recent police shootings of two black youths concludes "there is a general perception that Chattanooga/Hamilton County has a major race problem."
Valoria V. Armstrong, NAACP executive director, also said there are problems here with "racial profiling," and she said black businesses are not treated fairly by the local government.
She said blacks are sent to jail and prison for drug offenses much more often than whites.
Ms. Armstrong and other NAACP leaders were meeting on Tuesday with the City Council's Public Safety Committee.
The office of Mayor Ron Littlefield said prior to the meeting, "The city of Chattanooga makes every effort to be racially sensitive and to ensure that city employees conduct themselves in an appropriate, lawful, and respectful manner. Thirty-five percent of city employees are African American.
"Community conservations regarding racial matters ultimately lead to positive outcomes. We are encouraged and look forward to the NAACP meeting with City Council members and any suggestions that come out of that meeting."
Here are the conclusions of local NAACP leaders:
There is a general perception that Chattanooga/Hamilton County has a major RACE problem.
The city's African American population is 36% (nearly double that of the state's representation). This means that unemployment of African Americans in the city of Chattanooga will reach the Great Depression levels while the broader unemployment rate will be 9-10% this year.
Also, the city of Chattanooga and Hamilton County Government have a terrible record of doing business with local, African American-owned SBEs.
A 2007 study, compiled by the non-profit Justice Policy Institute, compared the nation's 200 largest counties. Black Hamilton County residents are sent to prison on drug convictions 19 times more often per capita than white.
Should we be putting more money in law enforcement or would it be better spent on more positive investments: education or employment training or any other investment that would enrich the community as a whole?"
Years of poor relationships with the police have left communities of color distrustful and skeptical.
Although we may debate the reasons, the fact that people of color are disparately impacted by police activity is undeniable.
There is a general perception that African Americans in Chattanooga/Hamilton County have few opportunities for career advancement, business growth and upward mobility.
In June 2009 overall unemployment was 9.5%, while unemployment among African Americans was 14.9%, and joblessness among Black youth was 37.9%.
There is a general perception that the existing agencies and initiatives that are responsible for dealing with these issues need to be evaluated and an independent non-partisan group should be formed to evaluate the effectiveness of these organizations within 90 days.
There is a general perception that fear of retaliation keeps people from coming forward regarding issues surrounding racism.
Numerous studies over the past few years have provided us with evidence to support what we have known for decades: law enforcement agents at all levels have consistently used race, ethnicity and national origin when choosing which individuals should be stopped and searched. At the most basic level, it is difficult for our faith in the American judicial system not to be challenged when we cannot even drive down an interstate without being stopped merely because of the color of our skin. Furthermore, evidence clearly demonstrates that racial profiling is not an effective means of law enforcement.
What's the business case for addressing racial profiling?
Officers will be safer out on the street. By addressing the issue, the city of Chattanooga can begin to heal old wounds and build trust. And officers should find it easier and safer to do their jobs.
It's the right thing to do. Open discussion about race helps the entire city begin to change long-standing beliefs and heal from experiences and actions that helped create current conditions in race relations.
Less risk of expensive litigation. By working to reduce any inappropriate and disparate impact of police activities on individuals of color, the city of Chattanooga should reduce the city's vulnerability to criminal and civil litigation over selective enforcement.
Law enforcement can be more effective. By analyzing its search and seizure data, the Chattanooga Police Department can become more efficient at identifying individuals of all races whose behavior truly indicates illegal activity.
Reflect a Changing City.
Chattanooga's racial and ethnic demographics are changing fast. To keep the city safe and livable, the Chattanooga Police Department can increase its efforts to hire officers from diverse communities and provide training in cultural competence.
The NAACP has elected to honor the community's experience and offers this definition of "racial profiling". The definition we embrace is:
"The inappropriate reliance on race as a factor in deciding to stop and/or search an individual."
The NAACP recognizes that it may take years before racial profiling is fully understood. In the mean time, the Chattanooga police department should be committed to developing a plan to address racial profiling and excessive use of force as a next step in a comprehensive effort to eliminate inappropriate and adverse impact of law enforcement on communities of color.
The NAACP will meet with the City Council's public safety committee and various community leaders to address community concerns. The purpose of the meetings is to address community concerns regarding perceived race relations problems in the city, allegations of excessive use of force, police harassment and lack of opportunities for African Americans and other minorities within the city of Chattanooga and Hamilton County.
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