Black Community Reacts to Franklin's Arrest

John Duke Franklin, Junior's arrest comes as a shock to many people...and for some it is even disheartening. We wanted to take a closer look at how his arrest and others are affecting the black community.

Dr. Jean Howard-Hill says the sight of John Duke Franklin, Junior in handcuffs is shocking and upsetting.

Howard Hill is a U.T.C. Professor and knows the Franklin family. She says, "I'm just saddened because I think we can do better."

She says while this isn't the first politician to be arrested recently, the fact that Franklin is an African American makes a difference. "Absolutely, because we tend to look up to preachers and elected officials and when either of those let us down, then it does have an impact in the community and I think we're all saddened."

Hill says one reason is because it wasn't long ago that African Americans were even allowed to be elected into office. Hill says, "We've just had a short period of time to become elected, from the reconstruction on, through the civil rights movement when there was so much against us, we have opportunities now we have to safeguard."

But she says when those opportunities are wasted, it impacts the entire African American community, including the next generation who's looking for a role model. "But I think with African Americans in particular we have to be extremely careful that we get into positions that we actually do what we say we're going to do."

Responsibility that County Commissioner Larry Henry says should never be abused by ANY elected official. Henry says, "It's just incomprehensible to me why anyone in this position would even be subjected to something like that and any kind of involvement at all."

Hill says, "I think it's a good thing people don't trust politicians because it makes them think about what they do and raises them to a higher standard."

Hill says Franklin's arrest isn't just affecting the African American community, but all of Chattanooga, just like the other recent arrest of Sheriff Billy Long. We did go to Franklin's business to get his father's response, but we were told he was unavailable.