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There is little to celebrate for many Nashvillians in the wake of state and local officials’ assault on the Community Oversight Board — now the Community Review Board — which passed by direct referendum in 2018 after an extended campaign by the Community Oversight Now coalition. The board was gutted by state law last year. This spring, an explosive complaint, filed by a former MNPD lieutenant, alleged rampant misconduct within the city’s police department, including a pattern of obstruction toward the board. With a heavy heart, Nashville saw many of the same faces from 2018 — including CRB board executive Jill Fitcheard, MTSU professor Sekou Franklin, and Sheila Clemmons Lee, whose son Jocques was killed by an officer — back in Jefferson Street Missionary Baptist Church over the summer, demanding a just response from city leaders. “Best” fails to capture the grief, betrayal and frustration that comes when government power shatters good-faith reform from its citizens, and our city only stands stronger because of these advocates’ choice to continue demands for police accountability.

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