Tennessee police take softer approach to Black Lives Matter protests

In Tennessee over the past week, Black Lives Matter protests have had a lot in common with others across the nation: activists chanting, waving signs and blocking traffic as they decry police shootings and allegations of racism.

Some of the protests that erupted after black men in Louisiana and Minnesota were killed by police have been marred by violence and arrests — and the added tension of a deadly attack on police in Dallas. In Tennessee, the events have been mostly peaceful with only a handful of arrests, although signs of a complicated and fractious relationship between protesters and police remain.

Law enforcement officials in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville and Chattanooga have indicated they are taking intentional steps to avoid arrests, maintain peace and build on sometimes tenuous relationships in black communities.

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland said his city "set an example for the world" Sunday night after police there avoided arrests and violence when protesters blocked both sides of the Interstate 40 bridge over the Mississippi River for more than four hours.

Interim Memphis Police Director Michael Rallings walked onto I-40 in a Kevlar vest and locked arms with some protesters. Officers in riot gear arrived later to clear out a smaller group after most of the others had left, but police still avoided major problems.

But another demonstration Monday outside Graceland hinted that simmering tensions with police would stretch well beyond a few days of demonstrations. Police arrested, cuffed and cited six people who they said were blocking the road. Officers dragged one woman away as an onlooker called to "let her walk."

Earlier on Monday, protesters released a letter slamming Rallings for betraying their trust during a town hall meeting. The letter suggested city officials did not honor an agreement related to the meeting, although it did not describe the agreement. Strickland said city officials have followed through on their agreement to talk with the group, and he promised Wednesday to continue the conversation with further meetings.

Nashville police 'here to serve everybody'

Police in Nashville have long been praised for their accommodating attitude toward those affiliated with the Black Lives Matter movement — officers served water and hot chocolate to protesters in 2014.

The department followed a similar model during protests over the weekend. Police helped eight people who were overheated Saturday get back to their meeting point in Centennial Park. And the department has shared photos of police praying and smiling alongside others over the weekend.

Metro Police Chief Steve Anderson has taken a leading role in setting the city's tone.

“We’re here to serve everybody," Anderson said during an interview this week. "As much as possible, we want to allow that to occur."

That includes allowing protesters to shut down busy thoroughfares, an action that has been met by tear gas and handcuffs in other cities. Anderson has taken a practical approach when justifying the decision not to make arrests for blocking roads.

“What do we intend to accomplish?" Anderson said. "If we swoop in and start making arrests, are we going to block the street longer than the protesters want to block it? We just have to weigh those sorts of things."

But even as Anderson has stood up for protesters in public statements, there are signs that strains might exist in his department. Two officers were decommissioned in recent days for Facebook posts that drew criticism in the wake of the police shootings and the attack in Dallas.

Joshua Crutchfield, an organizer for the Nashville chapter of Black Lives Matter, said he wasn't surprised Metro police projected such an accepting and helpful tone during the protests.

While he acknowledged Nashville police had been friendlier to demonstrators than departments in other cities, he challenged the idea that a peaceful protest was indicative of fair day-to-day police work. He said traffic stops and other police interactions in Nashville still unfairly target racial minorities.

“It doesn’t match what’s actually going on in the city,” Crutchfield said. Racial inequality “is also a problem here,” he said.

For his part, Anderson seemed hopeful that positive interactions during protests could lay the groundwork for improved relationships.

"We try to be as tolerant as possible, we try to be as accommodating as possible,” he said. "Along the way, maybe we build some mutual respect."

Knoxville, Chattanooga take friendly approach

In Knoxville, where about 100 people blocked a major intersection for about 15 minutes Friday, police also directed traffic around them.

Knoxville Police Chief David Rausch said collaboration between his officers and protesters has helped keep the peace.

“The experience here so far has been that if we feel there’s a safety issue, we have a conversation with those who are engaged in the protest and let them know,” said Rausch, who also serves as president of the Tennessee Association of Police Chiefs. “They have been very good at adjusting with us.”

The interactions between police and protesters were all congenial — which wasn’t anything new, he said.

“Those who were engaged in the protests were thanking the officers for being there, for protecting them,” Rausch said. “There have been issues that we have seen throughout the country where there have been some disparity questions, and so we get it. We understand why the questions are being asked.”

Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero agreed and lauded the mutual respect between officers and the community they serve.

“You have the police who approach it in a very respectful way, recognizing the rights of the individuals to protest,” she said. “Likewise, the folks who have shown up to protest have also been, by and large, very respectful. That goes hand in hand and has really helped to have significant protests for people to send a very clear message about their anguish and their concern, but at the same time, do it a way that everyone stays safe.”

Chattanooga police worked with protesters during demonstrations Saturday, Sunday and Monday without any problems. In a statement, the department vowed to "supply activists, marchers, organizers and citizens with a safe environment to express their views."

"We support protesters and proponents alike," Chief Fred Fletcher said in a statement. "It's our job to keep everyone safe."

Dave Boucher of The Tennessean, Megan Boehnke of the Knoxville News Sentinel, and Ryan Poe, Jody Callahan, Katie Fretland and Kayleigh Skinner of The (Memphis) Commercial Appeal contributed to this report.

Reach Adam Tamburin at 615-726-5986 and on Twitter @tamburintweets.