#southernpeoplespower

[concernedcitizensforjustice]

The surge of anti-Black rhetoric following the multiple shootings in Chattanooga over the last three weeks ignores the oppressive conditions that have plagued poor and Black communities in the South for decades. These continuous narratives and tactics used by local elected officials, media, and the Chattanooga Police Department isolate and diminish the progress of self determination in Black communities, and undermine the root causes of violence in our city.

When crime is discussed as it relates to Black and impoverished communities it is often used to further isolate people from each other and promote fear in order to increase policing and incarceration. When responding to the recent shootings, Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly claims that he wants to treat “gun violence like the crisis that it is”. Rather than seeing gun violence as a crisis, Mayor Kelly should recognize that violence in the Black community is a symptom of a much deeper crisis that requires consideration of the conditions at play.

Chattanooga’s low wage economy, under-performing schools, lack of low-income housing, displacement through gentrification, poverty, anti-Black racism, and the systematic disinvestment in Black communities are all root causes of community violence in our city. The police cannot continue to be used by Chattanooga officials as the “silver bullet” for all social issues, especially when elected officials disregard the overwhelming state violence from the Chattanooga Police Department and city officials.

The tragedy of community violence cannot be stopped by blaming individuals, shutting down Black owned business, increasing policing, incarceration, surveillance, or even by merely amending gun laws. The prioritization of investing in community-based services and programs that address poverty and mental health should be the first steps in addressing this harm with long-term solutions. However, the city of Chattanooga continues to prioritize an ever-increasing police presence and incarceration rate. The effects of the criminalization of poverty continues to take its toll on the city’s most vulnerable communities.

READ THE FULL STATEMENT:

bit.ly/Uproot-Community-Violence

[fergusonresponse]

NATIONAL CONFERENCE CALL

TUE SEP 6 - 6:00 PM ET

Building Southern Peoples Power: Southern Movement Assembly 6 National Call

As hostility and violence intensifies in all our communities, from climate disaster and deportations to police killings and generational poverty, Southern movements are rising. Organizations are coordinating across borders and beyond single issues to demand justice and to build a better world. In the South, it’s not just about a confederate flag. The Southern People’s Initiatives confront the historic realities of poverty and racism that manifest today in destructive policies, widespread voter suppression, and a dangerous social climate. It will take a people’s movement to dismantle injustice and build a new economy, a true democracy, and protected communities. We invite you to participate on our national call to share information about some of the transformative work happening in the South, in the Southern Movement Assembly and connect your powerful work to the Southern People’s Initiatives in 2016. We are stronger together. #SouthernPeoplesPower Register for the national call here: http://myaccount.maestroconference.com/conference/register/ZW4K0RRL1JCK0UR1 Register for SMA6 here: https://southernmovement.nationbuilder.com/

[concernedcitizensforjustice]

Yesterday community members, organizers, and faith leaders gathered to rally in solidarity with the fight to #FreePalestine🇵🇸

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Through speeches, poems, and storytelling, Palestinian speakers shared and educated the community about their direct experience of the Israeli apartheid.

“It’s horrible, I mean it’s horrible. I mean, you are tempted to say, ‘I give up, I give up. I just can’t go on’. But, I’m 78 years old. I should be enjoying my retirement, but you can’t, you can’t. You know something happens and you have to act. You have to do something. It’s criminal not to act or not to speak out, you know.”- lifelong activist and former UTC political science professor Fouad Moughrabi

We heard from organizers across Chattanooga who came to show solidarity across frontlines.

“We are inspired by the people of Palestine who are rising up against Israel’s continued apartheid. Black movement is rooted in a tradition of radical love and resistance. It is that same love that calls us to rise in solidarity with oppressed people everywhere. That includes our Palestinian family. We’re calling on people of conscience everywhere to do the same. Call, email, write, tweet your elected officials and tell them to cut our military spending supporting the harm of Palestinian people. The world is watching.” - Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson (Movement for Black Lives)

The fight to end the occupation and apartheid does not stop here! We must continue to keep up the pressure to end the decades long genocide of Palestinian people! Join us in taking action today! (Last slide)

Thank you to everyone who came out to show solidarity, to our wonderful speakers, the safety team, and anyone who played a role in making this possible.

#SaveSheikhJarrah #EducateAgitateOrganize #SaveGaza

[concernedcitizensforjustice]

There isn’t anything “innovative” about increasing the police budget and cop salaries in Chattanooga. The city has spent $717 million of our tax dollars on the CPD over the last ten years, and it hasn’t made Chattanooga any safer. The people want alternatives to the police; mental health response teams, social workers trained in deescalation and crisis response, not more militarized police prowling our streets. Chattanooga City Council will hold a public input session on August 31st. Save the date.

[concernedcitizensforjustice]

Today, Mayor Tim’s Kelly’s administration will present on the budget to the Chattanooga City Council, after delaying the city’s budget process for several months.

Hamilton County and the local Chattanooga Police Department are not exempt from terrorizing marginalized communities with brutality and murder. We reject the theory that there are only a few bad police on the force, because we know that the CPD, Hamilton County Sheriff's Department and local law enforcement cover-up, lie and avoid accountability in every way possible.

Over seventy community members of the Chattanooga and Hamilton County Metro Area have died at the hands of local law enforcement. It’s beyond time to #defundpolice , we can no longer accept reforms, “diversity trainings” and other tired old attempts to avoid addressing Police violence in our city.

[concernedcitizensforjustice]

Feed The Community kicks back up next week!

Join our Volunteer Team by helping to pack and/or distribute FREE Food to communities across Chattanooga!

Sign up by visiting tinyurl.com/tnufood21

Each month volunteers will meet at 5000 Rossville Blvd to pack food and then head out to our 4 distribution sites to pass out free food boxes/bags.

#LetMyPeopleEat #MutualAid #SouthernPeoplesPower #EducateAgitateOrganize

[concernedcitizensforjustice]

“Of the 1596 signatures that the Commission rejected, the Coalition found more than 300 to be wrongfully rejected, their rejection of a questionable nature, and not in compliance with Tennessee code of elections section 2-1-107. The Community Control Now ballot initiative only needs 226 additional signatures to be certified to meet the required amount of petition signatures.”

#CommunityControlNow #BestTownForWho?

#AccountabilityMatters

[concernedcitizensforjustice]

Early voting is happening now in Chattanooga for the mayoral and district 5 city council run-off elections.

The blatant voter suppression tactics in Georgia, by Governor Brian Kemp, are a reality that affects all of us, especially Black folks in the South. The new identification requirements, overhaul of early voter and mail-in regulations, and criminalization of passing out waters to people waiting in line to vote are just a few examples of Kemp’s new laws. Although these tactics of voter suppression do not yet affect TN, we know that Hamilton County is no stranger to voter suppression.

#CCJStreetTeam and Unity Group of Chattanooga joined Greater Tucker Missionary Baptist Church today for their Souls to the Polls event. Tag a Friend below and remind them to GO VOTE

#BlackVotersMatter #EducateAgitateOrganize

[concernedcitizensforjustice]

“Kenosha, WI. I was raised in a city like this, only it was in the S.E. USA, instead of the Midwest. A place called. Chattanooga, Tennessee. It had more even of a racist violent city reputation than Kenosha The KKK was always strong in this NN. area, until Black people drove them out in the 1980's. In fact, during the 1980's-90's Chattanooga had more police killings than anywhere in the USA (for a city of less than 150,000 residents. when I finally left in 1999, 58 cases were unearthed by researchers and activists of city and area cops. It was suspected that the Klan killed or brutalized even more. You can only survive and win in such a place by organizing a resistance movement, which is what we did.” - Lorenzo Komboa Ervin (Former CCJ President)

Artist: Jean-Michel Basquiat “Defacement”

[concernedcitizensforjustice]

🗣🗣🗣

Monthly Membership Meetings!

Are you local in Chattanooga, and down to fight for Black Liberation?

Join CCJ for our Monthly Membership Meetings held on EVERY 8th day of the month.

Since this Summer’s uprisings, General Members have been supporting and advancing the work of CCJ through various campaigns.

#FreeUnjolee, #LetMyPeopleEat, #CommunityControlNow, and #TheBudgetFight

Sunday, November 8th @6:30 pm

Register at tiny.cc/CCJMEMBERSHIP

#educateagitateorganize #Besttownforwho?

[concernedcitizensforjustice]

🗣From COVID in the Spring to the uprisings in the Summer, and the #CommunityControlNow petition drive in the Fall; 2020 has been a wild ride with many ups and downs.

Join CCJ for our FINAL General Membership call of the year on Tuesday, December 8th @ 6:30 pm EST.

Register at tiny.cc/CCJMEMBERSHIP

#EducateAgitateOrganize #SouthernPeoplesPower #GetInvolved

[concernedcitizensforjustice]

On this day, December 2nd, 1983, Wadie Suttles, father of CCJ co-founder Maxine Cousin, died after being brutally beaten while in the custody of the Chattanooga Police Department. Today we celebrate his life and the lives of his family members and friends who have continued to fight for justice on his behalf.

Join us tonight in-person or at home as we gather to commemorate the life of Wadie Suttles. 1000 Lindsay Street 6:00 pm EST

#BestTownForWho? #EducateAgitateOrganize #SouthernPeoplesPower #CommunityControlNow #AccountabilityMatters

[concernedcitizensforjustice]

As the The Movement for Black Lives states, “The legacy and effectiveness of our movements means our right to protest has always been under attack, from the 10,000+ protestors arrested during the current uprising to Black political prisoners Assata Shakur, Mumia Abu Jamal, and the Move 9 to Josh Williams and other protestors arrested during the Ferguson and Baltimore uprisings.”

Read the Open Letter to Judge Starnes and DA Pinkston, demanding Amnesty for All Protestors from CCJ and the Unity Group of Chattanooga

[concernedcitizensforjustice]

A broken tail or brake light can lead to brutality, an arrest by CPD, or worse. Because Chattanooga doesn’t haven’t accessible public transportation, our people have to choose between driving illegally or losing their jobs. Concerned Citizens for Justice is joining forces with Chattanooga Democratic Socialists of America Brake-Light Clinic, to change folks brake and headlights for free. We’ll see y’all this Sunday from 11am to 2pm on East 3rd Street next to the Family Dollar.

Come out for new brake lights, food, great company, and an opportunity to learn about Community Control Now: Independent Civilian Oversight of the Chattanooga Police department.

[concernedcitizensforjustice]

The Community Control Now coalition is made up of organizations that have been dedicated to fighting for human rights, civil rights, and keeping our communities safe beyond policing. We know that the police cannot continue to police themselves. We need a separate governing body made up of community members with the ability to hold the Chattanooga Police Department accountable.

Join CCJ and the Community Control Now Coalition on Tuesday, Nov. 10th @ 6:30 pm EST

➡️Register @ tiny.cc/CCNORGS

➡️Visit communitycontrolnow.org for more info

#educateagitateorganize #accountabilitymatters #communitycontrolnow #indefenseofblacklives

[concernedcitizensforjustice]

>>> Deslizamiento para español

The first two weeks of our Feed the Community program went off without a hitch! Here is a schedule of the remaining weeks we have confirmed! Join us at either location to support #LetMyPeopleEat. CCJ and TNU will continue to team up to distribute 75 food boxes a week to loved ones in need!

#EducateAgitateOrganize #MutualAid #SouthernPeoplesPower #GetInvolved