Tennessee Equality Project and MGLCC meet with Memphis Police Department

Memphis, TN. June 29, 2011. Representatives of Tennessee Equality Project and the Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center and other members of the LGBT community met privately with Memphis Police Department Director Toney Armstrong and his command staff yesterday. TEP requested the meeting with the Memphis Police Department to discuss LGBT diversity training and other policy matters following news of a police stop of transgender woman Kiare Newsom in May.

Kiare Newsom alleges that officers harassed her during a traffic stop, called her homophobic and transphobic slurs, and told her to lift her shirt along a busy highway. Newsom filed a complaint against the officers involved in the incident with internal affairs. The outcome of that investigation is still pending.

The Tennessee Equality Project Foundation provided LGBT diversity training to the Memphis Police Department Training Academy staff and other officers in 2008 following the beating of transgender woman Duanna Johnson by Bridges McRae, a former Memphis Police Officer. The MPD terminated McRae following the incident, and he is currently serving a jail sentence for violating Duanna Johnson's civil rights. The purpose of Tuesday's meeting included a review of current MPD diversity training curriculum and exploring ways in which the MPD and the LGBT community can work together to ensure that all citizens in the community are protected and treated fairly - with a particular emphasis on transgender individuals.

Director Armstrong expressed a commitment to fairness and treating people equally and is willing to address  concerns about interactions between LGBT members of the community and the MPD. Mayor A C Wharton also visited with the assembled group and offered constructive ideas for addressing presented concerns. The spirit of cooperation among community leaders, Memphis Police Command staff and Mayor Wharton during the meeting encouraged Tuesday's participants to move forward in partnership. We promised to meet again, continue our discussion, and explore more opportunities for community engagement.

- Jonathan Cole

Some of Memphis' finest are not protected on the job

Police Women of Memphis has garnered a lot of attention in Memphis and the entire country each Thursday night on the TLC channel. The women featured on the show project a positive image for Memphis and the Memphis Police Department.

The reality TV show features Officer Virginia Awkward and three other officers whose police work and interactions with the community make Memphis shine.

Last night, fans of Police Women of Memphis were treated to an inside look into the personal life of Officer Awkward. This week's episode included the renewal of marriage vows between Officer Awkard and her partner Ashley. The couple were married two years ago in Canada.

Officer Awkward recognized in the episode that her marriage is not recognized in her home state of Tennessee:

It's pretty ironic that I am a law enforcement officer, and there's a law that's keeping me from being myself.

Bur her marriage isn't the only part of her life where she has no rights. Officer Awkward has dedicated her life to protecting her community and enforcing the law. But unfortunately, current law does not protect Officer Awkard from employment discrimination on the job. Right now, she could be fired from the Memphis Police Department because she is a lesbian.

The City of Memphis needs to protect hard-working and committed employees like Officer Awkward. The Memphis City Council can do that by enacting LGBT-inclusive workplace protections with the Employment Non-Discrimination Ordinance.

Domestic violence in the GLBT community: From the NFL to Memphis

Two items on domestic violence at The Advocate made me pause this morning. The big headline was that openly gay former Minnesota Vikings player Esera Tuaolo has been charged with domestic assault. I want to emphasize Tuaolo has been charged, not convicted. Still, the allegations are troubling given his work to try to reduce homophobia in professional sports.

If it had been a straight male athlete currently playing for a major professional team, most observers would simply treat it as another example in a long list of highly publicized cases of "boys behaving badly." As The Bleacher Report's Scott Goll said a few years ago, "Yet, it's almost an afterthought when we read about it buried in the sports pages. It doesn't live long in our psyche, especially if he goes on to hit a game-winning homer the next day—all is forgiven somehow."

But what the charges against Tuaolo bring up for me is the invisibility of domestic violence in the GLBT community. As if to underscore the point, the Advocate linked to a clip from the TLC show Police Women of Memphis (I had no idea there even was such a show!) that captures the aftermath of a domestic violence call:



We can be thankful that there are officers like the one who responded to the call. Not all victims are treated so considerately. Amnesty International USA has outlined some of the problems in police response to domestic violence in the GLBT community. For example:

"Only 17% of police departments report having specific policies on same-sex domestic violence. 83% of police departments report providing training on issues around same-sex domestic violence. 14% of police departments report that they do not train on issues around same-sex domestic violence. "

We are fortunate in Tennessee that organizations like the Tennessee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence do wonderful, inclusive work around these issues. They list this information if you or someone you know needs help with domestic violence:

If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For resources in Tennessee call 1-800-356-6767 or 1-800-799-7233 (National Domestic Violence Hotline).

-Chris Sanders

Tensions run high on City Council police residency vote

On Tuesday of this week, the Memphis City Council failed to pass a measure that would have relaxed residency requirements for Memphis police officers. From the Daily News:

On a 6-to-7 vote along racial lines, the council this week rejected a proposed loosening of residency requirements for Memphis police officers. The resolution would have allowed the police department to hire applicants who live within 20 miles of Shelby County.

The vote will have implications for the safety and security of Memphis as well as how Council members will work together with one another in the future.

Click here for additional coverage from the Commercial Appeal.

Bridges McRae indicted for violating Duanna Johnson's civil rights

The Commerical Appeal is reporting:

Former Memphis Police officer Bridges McRae, who was fired for the beating of a transgender woman, was indicted Tuesday on one count of civil-rights violations.

If convicted, McRae faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a maximum $250,000 fine. . . .

The indictment alleges that McRae exercised unreasonable force, used a dangerous weapon and caused bodily injury to a person in his custody.

Further updates as they come.

New York Times on the Duanna Johnson Case

Find the piece here.

Jonathan Cole, the Shelby County chairman of the Tennessee Equality Project, praised the Police Department as embracing the problem. But Mr. Cole said that Ms. Johnson’s killing demonstrated how much discrimination remained in Memphis.

“We’re a sleepy Southern town,” he said. “For the most part, I think people in the South treat each other well. But there are prejudices that people have, and those prejudices come out in ways that are often violent when no one is looking.”

HRC calls for a thorough investigation into the murder of Duanna Johnson

The Human Rights Campaign issued a statement on the murder of Duanna Johnson yesterday. HRC President Joe Solmonese called on "the Memphis Police Department to fulfill its renewed commitment to treating transgender people with respect and fairness by thoroughly investigating this horrible crime and ensuring that every measure is taken to bring those responsible to justice."

WMCTV5 in Memphis covered the story last night and this morning.

Tragic news

News sources in Memphis have confirmed this morning that Duanna Johnson is the victim of an execution-style murder overnight. Duanna was also the victim of police brutality at the Shelby County Justice Center last February. Her story received international attention and moved the community and TEP to call for reform of the Memphis Police Department and Shelby County Sheriff's Department.

My thoughts and prayers go to Johnson's family and friends.

Council to Request Audit of Memphis Police Department

Memphis City Council members today are expected to discuss a resolution requesting an audit investigation of the Memphis Police Department.

The resolution asks that the Internal Audit Department or Civilian Law Enforcement Review Board review MPD’s policies, protocols, procedures, citizen complaint process and Internal Affairs to determine “corrective actions, which will ensure that the human and civil rights of citizens are protected.”

Coalition of concerned citizens addresses Memphis City Council

A group of concerned citizens presented their concerns about the police beating of Duanna Johnson at Tuesday's City Council meeting. See coverage by Fox 13 and WMCTV5.

The deafening silence of African American civil rights organizations and churches

In this morning's Commercial Appeal, Wendi C. Thomas asks important questions about race, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity or expression with regard to the police beating of Duanna Johnson. Thomas hit the nail on the head:

For Johnson, neither Rev. Jesse Jackson nor Rev. Al Sharpton have brought the national spotlight to town, and I think I know why.

Those who can be counted on to look out for the civil rights of black people are highly unreliable if that black person is gay, lesbian, bisexual and/or transgender.

It's time to recognize that "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" (Martin Luther King Jr., Letter from Birmingham Jail, April 16, 1963).

MGLCC supports Duanna Johnson and Community

A chorus of many speaks with one voice. The Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center issued this statement today:

The MGLCC board of directors has been following the events surrounding the brutal beating of a transgender woman by two Memphis police officers. We find these events unacceptable and we hope the police department will continue taking appropriate corrective action beyond the firing of the police officers involved. This kind of behavior can never be tolerated and must be addressed in a comprehensive way.

We have been in contact with and support the lead of local organizations such as Tennessee Equality Project, Women's Action Coalition, and the Midsouth Peace and Justice Center, who've made and continue working on several requests for change and accountability.

On Monday, June 23 these groups along with many people from the community met at First Congregational Church to discuss a plan for action. Many of our board members were in attendance.

MGLCC plans to be actively involved in helping formulate the next steps by having representatives attend and be supportive at the next meeting.

The 2nd Community Assembly will be held next Monday, June 30th at 6PM at the First Congregational Church. We strongly encourage our community to come show their support for this GLBT and civil rights injustice.

The Old Testament Prophet Amos said it best: "But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." - Amos 5:24 NRSV

MPD fires Officer Bridges McRae, but what about past complaints?

The Memphis Police Department fired Officer Bridges McRae for his misconduct immediately after an administrative hearing this afternoon. McRae is the officer who used handcuffs in his fist like brass knuckles to beat Duanna Johnson in the face on Feb. 12 at 201 Poplar. James Swain, another officer who held Johnson in her chair while McRae beat her, was immediately fired after the incident since he was still on probation.

WMC-TV uncovered five past complaints against McRae in his personnel file that were investigated by Internal Affairs and included racial slurs and a reference to the Aryan Nation.

The City of Memphis has a Civilian Law Enforcement Review Board that reviews civilian complaints after Internal Affairs completes investigations. The mission of the Board is to investigate citizen complaints of police misconduct in order to enhance and promote a better working relationship between the City of Memphis Police Department and the citizens of Memphis. The Board has the power to receive, investigate, hear cases, make findings and recommend action on complaints concerning the City of Memphis Police Officers. The Board is appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council.

What is really surprising is that Internal Affairs determined that all five complaints against McRae were "Not Sustained." Guess who Internal Affairs works for? The Director of Police.

If the Civilian Law Enforcement Review Board has to rely on the evidence and results of investigations completed by Internal Affairs, is there any wonder why all five complaints against McRae were "Not Sustained?" How can the Board truly conduct an unbiased hearing of a complaint against officers when they are basing decisions on evidence and internal investigations provided to them by the Memphis Police Department?

When you watch the video of McRae beating Duanna Johnson and you look at the types of complaints filed against McRae in the past, it begs the question: was McRae a ticking time bomb?

How many other investigations of police misconduct have been found to be "Not Sustained?"

It may be time to suggest reforms that call for the function of Internal Affairs to be removed from the Memphis Police Department to ensure that investigations remain independent. A new Office of Alleged Misconduct Review - answerable to the Mayor instead of the Director of Police - might have a better chance of catching the bad apples in the bunch before more serious incidents occur.

UPDATE on today's local media coverage of McRae's firing:

• Commercial Appeal - includes a poll question: Has justice been served with the firing of the officer caught on video beating a transgendered suspect in the booking area?
• WREG News Channel 3
• WMCTV 5 News - Memphis Police Association president J.D. Sewell disrespectfully refers to Duanna Johnson as "Mr. Johnson" in this coverage.
• Fox 13
• The Memphis Flyer has a story on last Monday's community meeting at First Congregational Church and an updated story on McRae's firing.

Memphis GLBT community calls for changes in Police Deparment

Fox 13 ran this story about the growing response of the Memphis GLBT and allied community to the February beating of Duanna Johnson. Johnson appeared grateful for the community support. Jonathan Cole, co-chair of the TEP Shelby County Committee, discussed some of the changes the community is calling for as outlined in the letter he sent to the City Council.

Letter to Memphis City Council

The Shelby County Committee of TEP sent the following letter to Memphis City Council Chairman Scott McCormick regarding the police beating of Duanna Johnson.

June 21, 2008

Councilman Scott McCormick
Memphis City Council
125 North Main Street, Room 514
Memphis, TN 38103

Dear Council Chairman McCormick,

I write to you on behalf of the Shelby County Committee of the Tennessee Equality Project (TEP), a statewide organization dedicated to promoting and sustaining the equality of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender citizens (GLBT).

The members of TEP share the concern of many in the community over the brutal Feb. 12 attack on Duanna Johnson, a transgender African American female who was beaten by officers while in the custody of Memphis Police Department.

TEP is pleased to learn that the Memphis Police Department has begun an investigation of the incident and pursued action against the two officers involved.

We understand that the behavior of these two officers is not representative of the Memphis Police Department and recognize the important and difficult work that Memphis police officers perform every day in our city. We want to make sure, however, that the MPD has done all it can to prevent future violence toward GLBT citizens of Memphis, including the following:

• The Shelby County Committee TEP calls upon the MPD to strengthen its requirements for diversity training. Many people of diverse cultures, traditions, ethnicities, and backgrounds call Memphis home and visit Memphis events and attractions. Memphis Police Department officers and staff must treat all people with respect and dignity regardless of race, gender, culture, religion, age, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity and expression. TEP believes that MPD employees must receive immediate, mandatory sensitivity training in working with the diverse citizens of Memphis.
  


• The Shelby County Committee of TEP also calls for the MPD to reappoint a GLBT liaison to improve communication and relations with the community. Several years ago, the MPD appointed a community liaison to work with GLBT citizens and organizations. Since that time, the liaison has left the department.
  

Finally, the Shelby County Committee of TEP requests that the Memphis City Council hold a special committee hearing to follow-up on the results of the MPD investigation of this incident. The MPD’s actions in this matter cannot be limited to investigation and termination of the officers involved in this terrible incident. Efforts must be made to ensure systemic changes in MPD policy.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Cole
Co-Chair of the Shelby County Committee of TEP

Cc: Memphis City Council, Mayor Willie W. Herenton, Press, Christopher Sanders, President of TEP

Update on Memphis police beating

Coverage of the police beating of Duanna Johnson is picking up in the Commercial Appeal. On Friday, the paper ran this story Police Director Larry Godwin's disgust at what is captured on the now famous video tape. It looks as if he is taking some of the appropriate steps in dealing with the disaster:

"There are going to be issues," Godwin said. "I'll deal with those issues. We don't have some code of silence here. If an officer does wrong, there are consequences because it taints the other 99.5 percent of the men and women in the department who work hard for the city."

On Saturday, the paper's editorial, while sloppily using the word "lifestyles," condemned the action of the officers involved and questioned the sheriff's focus on finding how the tape had been released.

The Shelby County Sheriff's Office, meanwhile, is intent on finding out how the videotape was leaked to an attorney. That's all well and good, but we trust they have been just as diligent investigating why their jail personnel didn't intervene.

Godwin got it right when he said McRae's job the night of the arrest was to treat his prisoner with respect and dignity while processing her into the system.

In a city where the perception is that African-Americans are unjustly hassled by officers, McRae's and Swain's actions are particularly injurious to efforts to diminish that perception and to build better relations with the African-American community. Beyond race, the officers' actions compromise the trust the community has in police officers. Losing that trust negatively affects the quality of officers' efforts to keep us safe.

More links on Memphis beating

WREG in Memphis ran this story with the reaction of the local GLBT community. Our own Jonathan Cole, who blogs here, is quoted.

"This is really what a hate crime looks like," says Jonathan Cole with the Tennessee Equality Project. "It clearly looks like from the video that people were looking the other way. That I think a symptom of the homophobia that exists within our community."

Cole says gay -- and especially transgender people -- face a dangerous indifference and that the video strongly indicates a hate crime.

Nashville's WSMV ran the video of the beating and an interview with the victim and her attorney.

The Commercial Appeal has this story that focuses on the firing of one of the officers involved. But they also note a new campaign that Amnesty International is launching to draw attention to the violence suffered by transgender people.

Amnesty International, which has been tracking police violence against lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgendered individuals is holding a news conference today in Chicago to discuss a campaign it is launching in that city to protest such violence.

The group reports widespread abuse by law enforcement ranging from derogatory language and excessive handling to rape and assault, said Ariel Herrera of Amnesty International.

"The most vulnerable are transgendered individuals of color," Herrera said. "They are the most stigmatized in the community and often targeted by police."

Memphis Police Beating of Transgender Suspect

I just learned of a WMCTV5 report on a transgender suspect beaten at 201 Poplar in an apparent case of police brutality. The incident actually happened back in February. Click here for the full story.