MEMPHIS, Tenn — From the death of Tyre Nichols to the fight for police reform and an investigation into the Memphis Police Department (MPD) by the Department of Justice, 2023 was a busy year for social justice groups.
The Memphis branch of the NAACP held its annual year in review meeting on Thursday, reflecting on the organization’s activity in 2023 in preparation for 2024.
“The biggest moment started in January with the Tyre Nichols case,” said Memphis NAACP President Kermit Moore.
Moore was appointed in July after spending five years as vice president to his predecessor Van Turner. He said Nichols' death after his encounter with now ex-MPD officers set the stage for the fight they and other activists would take up throughout the year.
“It brought to light that those types of jump and grab (traffic stops)…always have been detrimental to African Americans in this city,” Moore said.
With the city passing ordinances ending pretextual traffic stops, the use of unmarked cars, and other measures, Moore said the next step is to see what the state of Tennessee will do during the next legislative session.
“Because the state is good at preempting whatever statutes that we put into place here in Memphis and Shelby County,” Moore said.
Moore also said his biggest goal for 2024 is to increase young people’s involvement in the NAACP. People like Nadia Coleman, who moved back to Memphis to work with the organization after graduating from college in May.
“I think it’s really important, and I’m going to invite my friends to come here as well,” Coleman said.
Turner is confident Moore can take up the torch for Memphis.
“It was a year filled with tragedy, but I’m hopeful that brighter days are ahead of us,” Turner said.
Moore said he is looking forward to working with Mayor-elect Paul Young and hopeful they can continue to work with MPD for the good of the entire city.