Over the past week, the streets of downtown Chattanooga have been filled with protesters making demands of the city + police department. The list of demands is called the Appeal for Human Rights 2020, and it has been submitted by Eric Atkins, #ICantBreatheCHA, Concerned Citizens for Justice, The Unity Group, African American Women’s Coalition, and The Community Haven.
Late Thursday evening, Chattanooga Police Chief David Roddy implemented updates to the CPD policy that protesters have been demanding. “Duty to intervene” is now included in CPD policy, and “warning before shooting” has been included in the CPD “Use of Force” policy for more than 20 years. You can read the exact wording of each policy statement here.
During the rallies — before + after the protesters marched — speakers read out a list of demands they have for the city. These demands are meant to bring equity, equality, and justice to the black community. Perhaps the loudest one is to divest from the police department budget and put more money into the community for youth programs, education, mental + physical health care, and better access to essentials, like groceries.
The Appeal for Human Rights 2020
1️⃣ Divest from the police department budget
This is a call to take money from the police department budget and re-allocate it into black + brown communities.
2️⃣ Institute “duty to intervene”
This calls for responding officers to intervene when another officer is using excessive force improperly. As mentioned above, this has now been implemented.
3️⃣ Institute a warning before shooting policy
A demand for a policy that would train officers to identify themselves and give a verbal warning before shooting, and to issue the warning only after all other options have been exhausted. As mentioned above, this has been implemented for more than 20 years.
4️⃣ Invest in engagement of youth by the development of creative + new programs
Activists are asking that the city meet responsibilities that are already outlined in the budget, such as improving YFD centers and creating new programs for the youth in black + brown communities. A peek at the fourth floor of the downtown public library is a great example of what they want a YFD center to look like.
5️⃣ Improve public transportation through CARTA
The appeal asks for improvement in technology, security, and access to movement. According to the appeal, “This action would serve to increase the number of young people who could work or engage in activities to help them become productive, thereby needing less police intervention.”
Activists have also brought up two other demands not listed in the appeal, and you can find those here.
The City Council holds public hearings every Tuesday. This evening’s 6 p.m. meeting is about the city budget, which includes the police department budget — if you’d like to speak, you have to register using this form and follow these rules. If you’d just like to attend, you can sign up here, and you can find your district here.
Bonus — here’s seven things you need to know about taking demands to city council.