By Clint Confehr
NASHVILLE, TN — Steps are being taken to solidify Nashville Unites, a response to violence in Ferguson, Mo., where a white policeman shot an 18-year-old black man to death. Nearly 500 people showed support for the new organization during a two-hour discussion at Mt. Zion Baptist Church.
“This is not going to be a panacea for anything, but it’s a step in the right direction,” Francis Guess, a long-time Nashville states- man for equality, said of that one meeting on Jefferson Street.
Nashville Unites, is to: foster dialogue between police and citizens; have community connections for that dialogue; develop youth leaders; help more men with Mt. Zion’s mentoring program; and build trust to ensure a peaceful Nashville as a model for national collaboration.
“All of us have been impacted by events in Ferguson,” Bishop Joseph Walker, senior pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, said Aug. 21 in the sanctuary about the Aug. 9 police-shooting death of Michael Brown and subsequent protest, demonstrations, tear gas and arrests.
“No community is exempt.”
After three autopsies, Brown was buried Monday amid on-going international news reports, as well as state and federal investigations into Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson’s discharge of six bullets into the recent high school graduate.
“We thank God for the protesters using their First Amendment rights. But protest has a life-cycle,” Walker said, emphasizing Nashville Unites aims to show other cities how to seize opportunity during turmoil and build respect through collaboration.
Nashville Unites’ forum was on Thursday night, Aug. 21. Metro Police Chief Steve Anderson, precinct commanders, elected leaders, clergymen and candidates for city office listened to the public, responded and advocated more dialogue. Within 30 days, Walker said, a working group could be named so another public session might be held two months thereafter.
With Ferguson, Mo., as a background, Chief Anderson acknowledged Metro’s police department isn’t integrated according to Nashville’s diversity. However, Metro P.D. hires from the applications received, Anderson said. The back of his business card asks for applicants and lists 862- 7341 as the number to call for information on how to become a Metro Police officer.
“I’m somewhat critical of what went on in a fellow police department,” Anderson replied to a question on Ferguson police actions and what Metro police would have done.
“Hopefully,” he said, precinct commanders’ training would prompt a statement within an hour about a shooting such as Michael Brown’s. As for delaying the release of Wilson’s name, that should take “maybe an hour or two” for the safety of the officer and his family, but, Anderson said, “When you keep secrets, it sort of smells like a conspiracy.”
Video from a Ferguson store purporting to show Brown’s alleged theft of cigars, “served no purpose when it was released,” Anderson said, adding that it might be suitable as evidence for investigations and jurors’ review.
Ferguson Police reactions, Anderson said, were inappropriate; “People have a right to be heard.”
Anderson wants to meet with protest organizers before a demonstration to advise “leeway” will be granted so their message gets out. “I can’t tell you we won’t have an incident,” but the chief emphasized, “This is your police department. It’s not my police department. I merely manage it for you.”
At least one demonstration against Michael Brown’s shooting death was held in Nashville. It was in front of the Estes Kefauver Federal Building. The number of people attending Nashville Unites’ session at Mt. Zion was more than twice as many protesters on Broadway.
“We’ve had a major incident in the nation,” Gary Burke of Nashville said of violence in Ferguson, Mo. “I came (Aug. 21) in support of peace.” He’s a safety coordinator for a national company’s plant in Murfreesboro. “I was glad to have any forum with all races discussing issues. What I didn’t want it to be was putting our police on trial.” Burke knows Anderson who recognized him with a certificate for his volunteer work during the 2000 flood.
As part of Nashville Unites’ diverse audience, Guess said events in Ferguson are “unfortunate … Chief Anderson’s observations were 100 percent. We need to be able to talk with these people.” His hope for Thursday night was “dialogue.”
After the discussion, Keeda Haynes, a member of Mt. Zion’s prison ministry, said a police lieutenant thanked her for her comments. Haynes and others took the opportunity to speak to Walker, Anderson, Rev. Dr. Judy Cummings, president of the Interdenominational Ministers Fellowship, and the Rev. John Faison, pastor of Watson Grove Missionary Baptist Church, among other panelists.
Some discussion was on: helping ex-offenders who’ve paid their debt to society; making possession of an amount of marijuana a misdemeanor instead of a felony; dealing with disturbed people; and restoring the right to vote. Some responses reflect insufficient information about situations that add to residents’ mistrust of authority, especially when a black man is shot and left dead on the street for hours.
Haynes emphasized she spoke for herself, not for the public defender’s office where she’s a defense attorney.
“Our clients are those affected,” she said. Bar associations and the Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers should be consulted. The lieutenant who thanked Haynes for that suggestion “had never thought about contacting us.” Haynes said she’s accepted Walker’s invitation to serve on a panel he’s organizing to further Nashville Unites’ cause.
Rev. Dr. Judy Cummings of the Ministers Fellowship had just returned from Ferguson; a side trip from work in St. Louis. Three clergy groups “with a passion for the (Ferguson) situation were not working together,” Cummings said in a telephone interview Saturday. “There was no centralization (in Ferguson) … to speak with one voice.”
She advocates collaboration. Cummings said Nashville Organized for Action and Hope includes congregations, labor unions and non-profit organizations. It meets with police to address issues.
“If we could all, truly, unite, it would be a wonderful thing… How do we prevent turmoil here?” Cummings said, noting reactions to shooting deaths of Michael Brown and Trevon Martin. “We have to … be more proactive.”
Noting compliments for Metro Police, Cummings said the Aug. 21 session couldn’t “just be a boost for our brothers and sisters in blue, but we do have a good police department.”
Among those speaking up during the meeting, was 10-year-old Jehlin Hayes, whose aunt, Johann Wilkerson, stood behind him.
“How would I know I’m safe?” the youngster asked. Anderson replied, “Everyone has to be aware of their surroundings.” Nashville is “generally safe,” but children should speak with parents and friends about that.
Cummings said, “Church is where we go in times of distress and uncertainty.”
Wilkerson said she plans to take her nephew to Nashville Unites’ next meeting.