CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Local leaders came together this week for a discussion on race and justice in Clarksville livestreamed over the Clarksville Summit Facebook page.
Recent events, including the killings of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Breonna Taylor in Louisville, have ignited a national discussion surrounding systemic racism, the role of law enforcement and what can be done bridge the divide that exists in many communities.
Event coordinator Yolanda Williams called the Thursday forum a necessary step to bridge the an understanding between concerned residents and law enforcement.
Who was there
Participants in the event included:
- State Representative Jason Hodges
- Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts
- Austin Peay State University Vice President of External Affairs Ronald Bailey
- Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools Director Millard House
- Police Chief David Crockarell
- Montgomery County Sheriff John Fuson
- Clarksville Human Relations Chair Juanita Charles
- Montgomery County Diversity and Training Officer Michelle Lowe
- NAACP Chapter President Jimmy Garland
- CEO of Positive Images & Associates Rubin Cockrell
- CPD Capt. Liane Wilson
- County Commissioner Larry Rocconi
What we can do to do better
The group of leaders began with a discussion on the role of law enforcement, especially in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death and the national protests that followed. This included proper protocol during traffic stops, how to file a complaint and the development of new mental health practices
“I know that we are living in a great community, but I think it comes down to, just as others have mentioned, understanding and respecting others’ points of view, connecting as a community to recognize those problems and communicating to get to the bottom and resolve those,” said Sheriff Fuson. “I know it doesn’t do our profession any favors to see some of the things that are going on directly in the public eye, but I know that that is not reflective of law enforcement as a whole.”
Mayor Pitts said we need to spend more time looking in the mirror, instead of judging others.
“To me, there has been to much time spent judging others either by the color of their skin or what neighborhood they live in, and we spend to little time on introspection, what we are doing that is contributing to the problem. Reflection on past behavior,” Pitts said. “Really it’s an examination on what we can do better personally. Not what you can do better, but what I can do better in order to advance the cause that all men and women are created equal in this community and this country and this world.”
The group discussed education and the need for diversity, both in CMCSS and at Austin Peay. House presented on CMCSS’s “Grow Your Own” program, which helps people of color to become certified teachers and find work in the county.
The summit also covered economic disparities in Clarksville and the bidding process for public projects. Both city and county officials expressed the need for improvement in this area.
“I’m gonna keep it real. We are lacking in this area,” Lowe said. “There is so much more that we could be doing.”
She shared the county’s plans for increased advertisement in regards to hiring and county purchasing, making use of billboards and ads to ensure everyone gets a chance to bid.
Charles discussed finding improvements in that area.
“We are lacking, but through HRC there are a couple things we are looking into,” she said. “We also started looking into the hiring practices within the city government, looking at the disparities in departments such as Parks and Rec. That one stands out most to me because almost 90% of Parks and Rec is Black, and they have almost no Black management. … It’s not an investigation, but we are trying to figure out where the divide is.”
The City of Clarksville said Saturday morning that the 90 percent figure is incorrect. The city was not able to immediately provide the correct number.
For information on Clarksville Summit, visit them on Facebook or email clarksvillesummit@gmail.com.