Chattanooga police moved a mobile surveillance camera to watch over private property during a Good Trouble rally on Friday, after organizers moved the event from a city park at the request of the city. Organizers say this was a continued sign of disrespect for the Black activists.
The day of the rally, city officials told organizers they would not be permitted to meet on city property amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, so the group of local and out-of-town activists moved it to a private property in East Chattanooga, rather than Miller Park downtown.
Then, according to Chattanooga Police Department spokeswoman Elisa Myzal, police moved a mobile camera unit to the corner of the property where they do not have regular surveillance.
“That’s why that was moved, because we don’t have any permanent or more permanent ones, like a pole-mounted one, in that area,” Myzal said. “It’s just like a pole-mounted one or any other public safety camera, and that’s its only purpose. I mean, we could put the camera there or we could put more cops.”
Organizers noticed and criticized the orange trailer-mounted surveillance camera during the gathering, which was moved to the Community Haven in compliance with an executive order by Mayor Andy Berke that has been in effect since March.