Stop the Music & Listen:
Local Figures Discuss Real Change in Relations Between Police & Black Community
On June 12, Savannah J and Stephen St. James hosted a Stop the Music & Listen interview series in response to recent protests calling for an end to racial injustice and better relations between police and the black community. In place of regularly scheduled music, Savannah and Stephen turned over the mic to four community figures working to affect real change from different public and local government perspectives.
Scroll on to hear from Charleston County Deputy Chief Public Safety Eric Watson, “Change is Coming” activists Charles Duff and Charlie E.M., North Charleston City Councilman Michael Brown on the steps necessary to affect real change at each level.
Coming Together
Charleston County Deputy Chief Public Safety for Eric Watson
“These protests are very unique unique. Why? This is a young generation. It’s very diverse. You have an equal number of whites and blacks leading the way. That’s power.” Deputy Chief of Public Safety for Charleston County (and former Chief Deputy of Operations) Eric Watson is on the front lines ensuring better communication between Charleston police and the public. Hear him outline the steps local law enforcement can take to work toward a more peaceful and just relationship to the black community: be transparent, implement a strong policy and enable supervisors to enforce it.
The Next Generation
“Change is Coming” Activists Charles Duff & Charlie E.M.
After how compelling their message is, the first thing you’ll notice about “Change is Coming” activists Charles Duff and Charlie E.M. is how young they happen to be. As Millennials (30 and 27 years old, respectively) and heads of the Summerville-based peace group, Charles and Charlie are part of a movement of young people taking it upon themselves to peacefully ignite the next wave of change in the Lowcountry. Hear them discuss the steps necessary in the criminal justice system to create a better relationship between local police and the black community: “Unless we sit down and both communicate, we can’t make a change. Everyone has to be a part of it.” Now that the Charleston Chief of Police has asked them to meet, it seems they’re doing just that.
Accountability & Cooperation
North Charleston City Councilman Michael Brown
“We have a slogan in North Charleston that says, ‘If you see something say something.’ And that’s in reference to crime happening in your neighborhood… Well, that slogan must also apply to the North Charleston Police Department and all police departments all over the world.” North Charleston City Councilman Michael Brown highlights the need for systemwide accountability and cooperation. Hear him outline the steps the city council is taking to facilitate better communication between the local police and the public, including the formation of a committee of community and council members who perform an annual assessment of time spent by the local P.D. in the community, so they’re doing something besides making arrests. “The more we talk about it and the more we communicate with each other, the more we both understand the different perspectives.”
