Mayor Strickland meets with activists on eighth day of protests in Memphis

Desiree Stennett Corinne S Kennedy
Memphis Commercial Appeal

Hours before pastor and activist DeVante Hill kicked off the eighth consecutive day of protesting in Downtown Memphis, he sat down with Mayor Jim Strickland to discuss how the city can work to improve the relationship between the Memphis Police Department and black Memphis residents.

Speaking outside the Clayborn Temple before the start of protests, Strickland said the killing of George Floyd by a now-former Minneapolis police officer "was not the start of this problem, but I want him to be the start of the solution.”

“As mayor, I am absolutely committed to fixing that problem of how the police deal with black people," he said. 

The mayor on Wednesday committed to a weekly meeting for the next month with activist groups. He also praised Hill and activist Frank Gottie for leading peaceful protests at a time when some demonstrations around the country have resulted in looting and property damage. 

Hill said he and Gottie were committed to holding the city accountable as those discussions proceed and that just because city and law enforcement officials attended a photo op on Wednesday evening didn't mean that everything had been solved. 

However, both activists said they believed this movement was different from previous social justice movements seeking change in Memphis. Gottie said one reason for that was who was participating. 

"It's different because lots of white people are marching with us now," he said. 

Hill said white voices didn't have more weight than black voices but that sometimes they were more heard by people in positions of power. 

"I think the community will realize we are off to a much-needed beginning of a very, very long journey," he said. 

Hill added that he thought Memphis could be "a catalyst of change for the entire world."

Before the meeting, Hill said the goal was to "gain an understanding on race and reconciliation started with policies and practices of MPD and how city leaders can immediately play a part in the (city's) healing."

Sheriff Floyd Bonner and Memphis Police Director Mike Rallings were also present on Wednesday. 

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland, left and DeVante Hill talk to the media at the I Am A Man Plaza in Memphis, Tenn., prior to the the eighth straight day of protests on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in reaction to the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died after being pinned down by a white Minneapolis police officer on Memorial Day.

From here, Strickland said he would continue the conversation. Hill said the meeting resulted in some early commitments, including the possibility of more power for Memphis' Civilian Law Enforcement Review Board. 

Finally, Hill said city and county leaders also agreed to additional officer training at MPD and the Shelby County Sheriff's Office to include more training for working in the community peacefully.

"It was a bit more than we went into the meeting for so we're grateful," Hill said. "This is only the beginning of a very, very long journey that we all have to take."

Other local activists didn't seem impressed with the results of the meeting or the press conference.

"This is the DeVante Hill show," said activist Theryn Bond. "This is not the people’s show, this is not the people and their issues show, this is not let’s make some real change and progress show."

She said she was disappointed in Strickland, Rallings, Bonner and others for standing with Hill in the press conference.

Hill left people behind to be arrested multiple times after his marches, she said, but is being treated "as if he is the epitome of what activism and change is in this city?"

 "The rest of us look forward to meeting with them and having a press conference as well," Bond said.

The Memphis protests are part of a wave of demonstrations across the county sparked by the death Floyd. He died in police custody after now-fired Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for several minutes. The incident was captured on video.

Chauvin has since been charged with second-degree murder. Three other officers who were present at the time have also been fired. They face charges of aiding and abetting.

Wednesday night, Hill announced that this would be the end of his daily marches. He encouraged others to take Thursday and Friday off and "get some rest."

He said he planned to be back Saturday evening and told the crowd to invite everyone they know.

“We need so many people out here on Saturday that it’s hard to manage," he said. "I want to have to get a PA system on wheels."

It's unclear if other activists leading separate protests would continue.

Desiree Stennett covers economic development and business at The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at desiree.stennett@commercialappeal.com, 901-529-2738 or on Twitter: @desi_stennett.