More than 20 mayors and representatives will meet with Memphis Mayor Paul Young this week to launch an initiative to address crime through the power of Black leadership.
Young has partnered with the African American Mayors Association (AAMA) to announce the Black Mayors’ Coalition on Crime (BMCC.) Officials say this coalition will consist of Black mayors and “their proxies” from 12 states, including Mississippi, Louisiana, California, and others, who will collaborate to address crime across the nation.
“The time is now for us to speak with one voice to call for national and local policy change and funding, and to share our collective learnings to create the meaningful change that will reduce crime in all of our communities,” Young said in a statement.
The announcement of the coalition comes at a time that Young has called “unprecedented,” as Black mayors such as Eric Adams (New York) and Karen Bass (Los Angeles) have taken office. Young said that he and the other mayors represent communities “most affected by crime,” which allows them to have a distinct perspective.
Adams has voiced his support for Young, and said that every city shares the need for public safety, because it is a “prerequisite for prosperity.”
“I applaud Mayor Young for convening the Black Mayors’ Coalition on Crime to have an honest conversation around protecting our cities and delivering peace of mind at a time when our communities need it most,” Adams said in a statement.
Officials said Young will lead the initiative. According to the mayor’s office, the two-day event will be hosted by Russell Wigginton, president of the National Civil Rights Museum, with a keynote from the Council on Criminal Justice.
The BMCC will also look at crime-fighting tactics that have been effective in other cities, such as the Operation SCARLET (Stolen Car and Recovery Law Enforcement Team) of Charlotte, North Carolina and Operation Good from Jackson, Mississippi.
North Carolina television affiliate WSOC-TV reported as of September 2023, Operation SCARLET had seized over 130 cars from several states. Law enforcement in the state has also made several arrests related to these incidents.
Jackson’s Operation Good seeks to “stop recidivism, clean up the environment in which the impoverished live, reduce violent incidents, introduce alternative solutions to gun violence and robbery, mentor the high risk population,” and more. During its first year of operation, the organization reported 286 days without “a gun-related death.”
While BMCC includes Black mayors, Young said that the coalition will “be open to anyone who can contribute to solving the issue.”
“My hope is that this will be the start of a broad, ongoing national effort to find real solutions to this very complex issue. I believe we can leverage our collective platforms to create change in the policies, laws, and resources needed to reverse the trend and heal our communities,” said Young.
Officials will convene in Memphis March 27-28.