Mayor Jim Strickland and Memphis Police Department Director Michael Rallings on Tuesday gave fresh accounts of ongoing efforts to meet the demands of a multi-pronged band of local protesters.
Among the protesters is a coalition of nonprofit leaders that was back in Front of City Hall on Monday, declaring that “little substantive response” had been made to action steps the group had sought by June 26 regarding issues such as poverty wages, sub-par education, over-policing and brutality by law enforcement.
His administration, Strickland said, has agreed to several changes after meetings with an activist group that includes protest leaders DeVante Hill and Frank Gotti, talks with Memphis City Council members and work already being done by MPD.
Detailing responses to eight recommendations pushed by Memphis Nonprofits Demand Action (MNDA), Strickland said his administration agrees with six of them:
The MNDA also sought the release from jail of all protesters, with charges dropped and all officers held accountable for any wrongdoing during the protests.
Turning to MICAH (Memphis Interfaith Coalition for Action and Hope), Strickland said most of their suggestions had been agreed to and more detailed responses are forthcoming as are such responses to recommendations by the Democratic Socialists group.
