More than 150 people filled the pews of Orchard Knob Missionary Baptist Church on Monday night to hear decades of experience about the front line of the fight for justice from the local legends who stood up for their rights.
The town hall featured Tommie Brown, the first black woman elected as state representative of the 28th Legislative District; Joanne Favors, former state representative and the first black woman elected to the Hamilton County Commission; Johnny Holloway, who led the PUSH for Excellence program to improve local education; Sherman Matthews, chairman of the Unity Group; and the Rev. Paul McDaniel, NAACP leader and former county commissioner who fought in the Supreme Court for pastors to be able to serve in local office.
The group discussed the accomplishments of the civil rights movement in Chattanooga and the ongoing struggles for equality, including education, youth engagement and gentrification.
With creeping gentrification in black neighborhoods, black people are again being treated like property, like they were during times of slavery, Matthews said. Investors are more concerned about profits than people, he said.
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