Activists Demand Transparency Over CMPD Officers’ Offensive Text Messages

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A gathering of several activist organizations occurred on Wednesday night at First Ward Park, where they urged authorities to disclose racist text messages associated with seven officers from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD). The organizers expressed their concern over what they termed a “repeated pattern of racist policing” by the CMPD. Notably, six out of the seven officers involved have already stepped down.

Participants in the rally emphasized the need for increased transparency within the police force. Kass Ottley, the founder and executive director of Seeking Justice Charlotte, stated, “If you’re gonna be transparent and there’s nothing to hide… we need to confront racism within CMPD and law enforcement in Charlotte, in North Carolina, across the country.” The group is also requesting the prompt release of body camera footage related to the September shooting of Curtis Massey, for which CMPD has sought court approval to unveil the video.