A Clarion Call for Transparency and Community Building

Triangle Iotas call for justice, accountability, and bridge building following killing of Andrew Brown Jr.

CONTACT

Stan Chambers Jr.

Polaris

Alpha Epsilon Omega Alumni Chapter

Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.

aeo.iotaphitheta@gmail.com

(919) 641-0469

DURHAM, N.C. (May 10, 2021) - The Alpha Epsilon Omega Alumni Chapter of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc., is calling for justice and accountability. We are distressed at yet another incident highlighting the ongoing disconnect between law enforcement and people of color, particularly in the African-American community, as well as all marginalized and disenfranchised groups.

We call for an immediate end to the “us-versus-them” mentality. The change we want to see starts with conversations, actions, and repercussions that lead to better enforced policy and procedures, not more lives lost. This basic, yet vital necessity to hold law enforcement accountable when they commit unlawful acts against the citizens they are sworn to protect, now becomes even more evident in our current state of civil unrest.

We demand ongoing, meaningful conversations that enhance the lives of our fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, and neighbors. We demand great integrity when a law enforcement officer’s accountability is questioned within moral conscience. These calls to action must be answered to help build trust between those who protect and those being protected accordingly.

A clarion call for doing what is right isn’t always easy, nor does it come lightly. Our beloved fraternity, an international organization of mainly African-American men, has many members who are active police officers and sheriff’s deputies. We realize the dangers they face daily. We thank them for risking their lives to protect our communities. But as a historically Black fraternity, we cannot ignore the dangers that are prevalent for Black men, especially when encountering law enforcement - just because of the color of their skin.

Whether its Ferguson, Louisville, Minneapolis, Elizabeth City, or many other places across our country, we are constantly reminded that no community is too big or small from the challenges that stem from decades of societal and institutional racism.

Our organization is also no stranger to the societal unrest we face today.

Iota Phi Theta was founded in 1963 during a time of great social injustice and civil unrest. As such, our fraternity strives to enhance the communities we serve by, in part, advancing the equal treatment of all people. Achieving this, in part, requires accountability not only on our part, but from those who serve our communities.

We understand that body camera footage is considered evidence, but in times of great accountability, it is when our public institutions should be the most accountable to themselves and their communities. It shouldn’t take a court order to do what’s right. It shouldn’t take clashes between police and residents to do what’s right.

We ask Sheriff Tommy Wooten II and the Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office to release all body cam footage related to the killing of Andrew Brown Jr. Is such not, in the words of the department’s mission statement, “committing ourselves to the people, traditions, and diversity of our county”?

We also ask the sheriff’s office, the Elizabeth City Police Department, and all other law enforcement agencies in Pasquotank County and throughout Northeastern North Carolina to engage in regular and purposeful community building. It shouldn’t take a shooting to open lines of communication between a community and those who protect it.

Lastly, we ask our brothers and sisters of the National Pan-Hellenic Council who live, learn, and work in Elizabeth City to be active members of any coalition working to build understanding and trust between residents and government entities. In turn, we are more than willing to assist our Pasquotank County brothers at Elizabeth City State University and throughout the community with similar efforts.

Our condolences run deep for the family of Andrew Brown Jr. Simultaneously, our desire runs deep for the type of coalition building that limits these type of fatal misunderstandings.

From our ongoing Law Enforcement Series to our overall award-winning Time To Build Initiative, the men of Alpha Epsilon Omega will continue our work in ensuring this happens.

About the Triangle Iotas
The Alpha Epsilon Omega Alumni Chapter of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc., has empowered change in the Triangle region of North Carolina for nearly 30 years through service, leadership, collaboration, and action. This focus has resulted in multiple state and regional awards, including the fraternity’s 2020 N.C. Alumni Chapter of the Year and the 2021 Eastern Region Social Action & Impact Award. Visit triangleiotas.org to learn more about our efforts.