Memphis City Council member Jerri Green requested Memphis Police Department (MPD) Chief C.J. Davis be called to appear in front of the council to answer No Kings Day protester demands during Tuesday’s council meeting.
Green asked that council member Ford Canale, chairman of the council’s Public Safety and Homeland Security committee, to put Davis on the next committee meeting agenda.
This request came after community members and organizers showed up to the council’s regular meeting in the wake of the No King’s Protest on March 28. Protesters gathered at Robert R. Church Park to march and protest.
Organizers said MPD officers “escalated to violence” and said they “tackled, beat, maced, and arrested peaceful participants.” A statement from MPD said officers deployed pepper spray, and detained six people, with three being charged.
After the incident a coalition of community groups sent a letter to city officials demanding the release of body-worn camera footage, public identification of every officer present, and more.
Green told those present their concerns were heard, and she agreed that transparency and timelines were needed, prompting her to take action.
“I understand we might get pushback from the administration,” Green said.
The councilwoman said she spoke with city attorney Tanera Gipson who said the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has taken action to investigate the Memphis Police Department’s violations of the Kendrick Consent Decree. Because of this, Green said Gipson may advise Davis to not speak on the matter.
“If that is the case, she needs to come say that again in committee,” Green said. “I look forward to a transparent process. I look forward to ramifications — whatever they may be, and for us to have a clear timeline for when those will be put in place.”
Green informed the crowd that the council did not have the authority to take action on suspending officers, but they can make the appropriate bodies appear to answer questions.
She also assured that as an attorney, she would defend their rights under the Constitution.
Councilmember JB Smiley thanked the crowd for voicing their concerns, and apologized for what many experienced during the protest. He said he wasn’t sure if they would get an apology from the administration, but assured that the council members present were sorry for what many experience during the protest.
While he said their were limits to what the council could do, he brought up Ordinance 5852, which he sponsored with council member Rhonda Logan. The ordinance allows the council to have access to certain body camera footage from MPD involving the use of “excessive, unnecessary, and or deadly force.”
Smiley said he spoke with city attorney Allan Wade to see if the ordinance had been “preempted by state law.”
“If it’s not preempted, I think you have an avenue to get access to some of the bodycam footage you have been requesting,” Smiley said.
Council members spoke up after a lengthy public comment period where several protesters and community members asked them to take action on their demands. Participants held signs saying “FIRE C.J. DAVIS” and “MPD IS VIOLENT,” while also sharing their experiences at the protest
Dai Williams, a safety marshall for the protest, was detained by MPD and called the agency “incompetent.” Williams told the council that on a national day of protest other cities’ police departments found a way
“There was literally no chaos before MPD caused chaos,” Williams said. “Our police have an ego problem, and ever since this Memphis Safe Task Force came to town, I think they have been emboldened. They were acting like they were ICE up there in Minneapolis.”