NAACP demands apology from Hamilton County DA candidate Wamp

Staff Photo by Matt Hamilton / Coty Wamp talks to visitors before the start of the district attorney debate at the Red Stones Estates senior living facility on Tuesday, January 17, 2022. Staff Photo by Matt Hamilton / Coty Wamp talks to visitors before the start of the district attorney debate at the Red Stones Estates senior living facility on Tuesday, January 17, 2022.

By Logan Hullinger March 18, 2022 6 min read

The Chattanooga NAACP is demanding an apology from Hamilton County district attorney candidate Coty Wamp after comments she made this week about the group’s treatment of law enforcement officers.

In an audio clip from a Tuesday event obtained by the Times Free Press, which Wamp said was released by incumbent DA and fellow Republican Neal Pinkston, she said she cannot completely support the organization for its alleged failure to properly treat police.

“I don’t think any (police officers) would think we are against the police,” said Rev. Ann Pierre, Chattanooga NAACP president, in a Friday phone interview. “We have police officers who are members of the NAACP. Those statements were just not true. How in the world would you think we’re not for the police? We’re not supportive of bad actors.”

Pierre went on to say the organization recognizes officers for community service annually and that even though Wamp doesn’t have experience living as a Black person, if she’s elected, she’d have to “widen her lens” and begin to put herself in the population’s shoes.