One of my favorite things about the research I’m doing here is that it gives me the chance to listen. It’s wonderful that this blog has become a space for voices and opinions that don’t fit the city’s broader narrative. But that’s also got a downside. It often puts the blog in the middle of a debate, rather than help foster one. Sometimes that’s helpful, and sometimes it’s not. But it’s often exhausting. So it’s been fun to have an excuse to turn on the old tape recorder and get a chance to listen to Camden residents. My work here was grounded in this same process in New Orleans, which had a huge impact on my beliefs, my professional work, and my activism. It’s early in that process here in Camden, but I can’t help but feel like the same thing is happening. In that spirit, I’ve cut a little back on the blog, to do a little more listening. 

Also, in that spirit, I wanted to highlight some of Sean Brown’s recent writing on MLK Day about Injustice in Camden and what can be done about it: 

Police Brutality

There are young men and woman in Camden that have been punched, kicked, arrested, and jailed without ever committing a crime. I have read the reports, seen the pictures, and heard the stories. Please read this article that discusses the issue in detail. See this story as well.

I trust Chief J. Scott Thomson. I know that he has fired more police officers than any other chief in New Jersey. Almost all cops are awesome. They have a tough job. I’m friends with cops. But it says a lot about the state of policing that after a complete overhaul of the police department, after trainings and a presidential candidate touting the grand success months after a presidential visit, we still have young men getting the shit kicked out of them that were never resisting arrest or a threat of any kind.

Last year, a high profile political insider told me that he thought that the accusations were by criminals that wanted to bolster their chance of getting a case kicked out. No. Just as it happened in 1966, 1976, 1986, and 2006, there are some officers that are overly aggressive. [ReadCamden After the Fall for many examples.]

What can we do about it?

1. Write, call, complain, and meet with/to Camden County Freeholders. Remind them that this is still an issue.
2. Record it, put it on Facebook, talk about it, let the world know the names of the cops that do it.
3. Start a Camden Civilian Complaint Review Board. Model it after what Mayor Ras Baraka and the ACLU did in Newark, NJ. We already have structure in place, but it needs the support of Mayor Dana Redd, the county government, and the community. The local NAACP could work with community groups, especially the District Council Collaborative Boards.

There’s a lot more there on issues such as school resources, democratic elections, human trafficking  and incarceration. I hope you’ll take the time to read it all.