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Tuesday, November 10, 2026Nov 10

‘He doesn’t want to go out there and take some pastor to jail’: Notable quotes from a week of Chattanooga area news

Staff File Photo / Chattanooga Police Chief John Chambers said that volunteers and nonprofit employees who venture onto private property to provide services to homeless encampments should get permission from the property owners before doing so.
Staff File Photo / Chattanooga Police Chief John Chambers said that volunteers and nonprofit employees who venture onto private property to provide services to homeless encampments should get permission from the property owners before doing so. Staff File Photo / Chattanooga Police Chief John Chambers said that volunteers and nonprofit employees who venture onto private property to provide services to homeless encampments should get permission from the property owners before doing so.

People who had a way with words in the news last week:

“He doesn’t want to go out there and take some pastor to jail or have to write a citation to a pastor who’s just trying to help people.”

— Chattanooga Police Chief John Chambers, referencing an email sent by a police officer to outreach workers trespassing to provide services to homeless encampments.

“Speaking with authority.”

— Ahmed Fawzy, imam at the Islamic Center of Greater Chattanooga, while looking to the sky after a thunderclap interrupted a question regarding the possibility of different faith traditions working together.