April 2023

Greetings Friends and Supporters,


We hope that this newsletter reaches you and yours in high spirits! Right now, there is a lot happening at a municipal level: the city is trying to get out of consent decree, the search for a new superintendent is delayed but underway, the mayor is under a lot of scrutiny, the NOPD has formed a non-transparent 'Violent Crime Task Force,' and more. 


We need and deserve a transparent and accountable city government! The people deserve a say in how we are policed! The city and the NOPD give us lip-service, all the while being negligent and violent to the community. This is why we continue the struggle for democratic community control of the NOPD.


Here are a few upcoming events and meetups–we would love to see you!


Justice for Tyre Nichols!


The month of January unfortunately brought news of more brutal police murders taking place across the country. On January 30, NOCOP put on a protest in solidarity with the friends and family of Tyre Nichols, who was brutally murdered by the Memphis Police Department, as well as the communities of Manny “Tortuguita” Teran in Atlanta and Keenan Anderson in Los Angeles. 

Nearly a hundred people gathered for the march through the French Quarter, taking up the call for community control of the police and taking a firm stance against police violence. We staged this action alongside thousands of people and organizations nationwide who answered the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression’s call to action. It is only together that we will win!


Recently, Mayor Cantrell demanded that city officials not talk about the consent decree because it was allegedly too much of a drain on their time and resources. This set off a city-wide boycott of all court-ordered consent decree meetings and hearings.

Meanwhile, the NOPD has started hosting public meetings to convince us they're in compliance and no longer need the consent decree. By their own admission--and the Office of the Consent Decree Monitor's measurements--the NOPD is still failing to meet multiple parts of the consent decree, notably Chapter 18 of the consent decree, titled 'Transparency and Oversight.' They continue to resist even minimal oversight.

As soon as this news was announced, NOCOP staged a rally on the steps of city hall demanding that the mayor comply with the consent decree. We also staged a phone zap to put pressure on the mayor to attend and host public hearings about the consent decree. Though she continues to resist the consent decree and federal court orders, we are keeping up the fight. On Saturday, April 22, we attended and interrupted a public NOPD meeting about the consent decree. Next Friday, April 28, at 12 pm, we are holding another protest outside of City Hall––the flyer is above. We’d love to see you there!



Protect the 

Consent Decree!

Campaign for Community Control!

NOCOP’s campaign for community control of the police continues! As always, we are continuing our petition for a CPAC ordinance. We bring the petition to every outreach session and action we attend or put on. This past January, we hosted an educational forum on people power, featuring organizers from Chicago talking about their community control ordinance, Empowering Communities for Public Safety (ECPS).

We continued the campaign to Convict Gerry Paul this past quarter, as well. It is crucial that we keep an eye on corrupt cops the NOPD lets run rampant in our communities! We demand accountability from the NOPD because we know that working towards it will mean more power realized in the hands of the people. Securing community control of the police is the only way we can make sure that the NOPD stops terrorizing the people.



Last newsletter, elections for the police accountability council seats in Chicago were just about to begin! In February, one of NOCOP’s members––Toni Duplechain-Jones––was able to visit, learn from the campaign, and help with canvassing. Of the 22 police districts, the people’s struggle won the majority in 14 districts outright! The Fraternal Order of the Police ran candidates in all districts to try and combat police accountability and they failed––the FOP secured  a majority in only three districts. 

This success is the direct result of years spent campaigning and organizing by the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (CAARPR). More good news from Chicago: Brandon Johnson––a progressive candidate whose campaign supports CAARPR’s struggle in Chicago––officially won the mayoral election. Click here to read the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression’s statement.



Results from Chicago!

Staying Tuned & Going Forward

We have spent the first quarter of this year reflecting on our struggle for community control of the police in New Orleans thus far. Since beginning our campaign in 2021, we have learned a lot. Going forward, we hope to channel these lessons into energy and clarity. This means engaging in a lot more outreach in the Tremé, continuing to host educational events like our January forum about the struggle for community control in Chicago, and more. 

If you want to take part in this work, please reach out to us via social media––@NOCOP on Facebook and @n.o.cop on Instagram––or email us at neworleanscpac@gmail.com. We host open meetings and perform outreach on a regular basis and would love to have you there.


Thank you for Fighting With Us!


Yours in struggle,


NOCOP 

New Orleans for Community Oversight of Police