Letter to the editor: Praise for Morristown cops from Black Lives Matter

Police Chief Pete Demnitz (yellow hat) escorts demonstrators down South Street. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Police Chief Pete Demnitz (yellow hat) escorts demonstrators down South Street. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
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Police Chief Pete Demnitz (yellow hat) escorts demonstrators down South Street in July 2016. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

Arrest, Not Death

On July 9th, 2016, I led a peaceful march by Black Lives Matter Morristown to show solidarity with victims of the rampant police violence against black communities across the country.

Morristown’s first Black Lives Matter March had over 100 local community leaders and residents present with less than 24 hours notice.

'WE JUST WANT OUR LIVES TO MATTER AS MUCH AS ANYBODY ELSE'S' : Jerry Carter III and T'Anna Kimbrough, co-organizers of Morristown Black Lives Matter march. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Jerry Carter III and T’Anna Kimbrough, co-organizers of Morristown Black Lives Matter march in July 2016. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

Since the march in July, Black Lives Matter has found its roots here in Morristown, working with members of the local community along with Mayor Dougherty and Chief Demnitz to improve community relations between Morristown Police and the black community.

Four days after the march, on July 13th, Chief Demnitz stood in front of Morristown residents at the Interfaith Vigil for Peace and Justice and spoke about his vision for this town.

The Chief spoke of a desire for stronger relations between officers and community members; the plan to start a ride-along program to reduce unnecessary violence and confrontation between officers and community members, and the need for reduced police violence nationally.

On Labor Day, Chief Demnitz’s word was proven authentic. Khyir Johnson, a student at a Virginia university and a Morristown resident, allegedly shot rounds in the air from a gun that was found on the street. Khyir Johnson was arrested by Morristown Police without the use of deadly or harmful force, despite his possession of a loaded gun.

While it should be standard that all precautions are taken to avoid injury or death in the process of an arrest, we know that this is not always the case. While other communities have suffered the tragic loss of innocent victims over the misinterpretation of an everyday object as a weapon, Morristown Police employed tactical de-escalation and communication in an instance where there was a loaded weapon involved.

Morristown police were able to arrest the person without physical harm to anyone involved. Black Lives Matter Morristown wants to highlight this event and commend Morristown Police for staying true to Chief Demnitz’s desire to avoid unnecessary physical force.

We call on our neighboring communities to follow Morristown PD’s lead, and avoid the unprovoked use of deadly force.

Black lives Matter Morristown is committed to acknowledging the cycle of oppression within the black community as related to professional, financial and academic opportunities; unjustified criminalization, and wrongful imprisonment.

Black Lives Morristown will approach our mission with a commitment to education on all levels and an affirmation of black contribution and strength within our community and nationwide in the face of oppression.

We will proactively and collaboratively work to address this systematic racism, holding the reality that BLACK LIVES MATTER HERE.

T’Anna Kimbrough

Black Lives Matter Morristown plans a peaceful vigil at the Cauldwell Playground at 8 pm on Sept. 22, 2016, to mourn black men killed in recent days by police across the country.

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