WEST MEMPHIS, AR - The NAACP marked its 100th anniversary in a community that has seen more than its' share of racially-charged incidents lately.
About 150 West Memphis residents gathered tonight to celebrate the 100th anniversary. As some looked back on how far race relations have come, some are looking forward to where they need to be.
“You think of 1909 to 2009, many of us will not see 100 years,” said Crittenden County NAACP local chapter president, Willie Catha Jones.
Catha Jones says she's proud of how far race relations have come since the birth of the civil rights organization.
“Wooo! Hard to imagine. The struggle still continues. Even though it was a struggle, a struggle, a struggle. It's still there,” Catha Jones said.
Some city council members say the city still has a long way to go. The city has had several heated race debates in the past couple of years from policing to the death of DeAunta Farrow.
“I think there's been a lot of issues for the NAACP to address, and I would like to see them work more with city officials, and with the police department on those issues,” said West Memphis city council member Marco McClendon.
McClendon has been very vocal about race relations. He says many of the city's problems stem from the police department.
“I think you have certain city officials, departments that need to come to the table and implement policies, especially our police force that would make our city come together,” McClendon said.
McClendon says the city needs to open up more to minorities. He says out of 24 of the city's ranked police officers, only 3 are minorities. Catha Jones agrees there are issues with the police department. She says she needed to step in when city council members and the police department couldn't agree on policing this summer.
“I've had positive feedback, of course no one has been negative to my face,” said Catha Jones.
McClendon says he hopes by the 101st anniversary of the NAACP, the organization takes up more battles because the city isn't where it should be.
“By far not. I think the majority of people, black and white are ready to move forward. I think the people in power are still dealing with power issues than looking at the people of West Memphis coming forward to move together,” McClendon said.
The president says she would like to focus more on education and economics to help race relations.
“When you think of NAACP, you think of a fight. We do fight, however, there are other things we need to do than fight,” Catha Jones said.
During the celebration, the Crittenden County NAACP chapter acknowledged 7 West Memphis residents they say have made a difference in race relations in the past year.
