Jensae1
12-15-2003, 04:40 PM
The Article (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A63339-2003Dec14?language=printer)
Ward 8 Democrats Shelve Official's Ouster Over Slur
'White Trash' Remark Decried by Group's Leader
By Yolanda Woodlee
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, December 14, 2003; Page C01
In a meeting that erupted into a shouting match, members of the Ward 8 Democrats voted yesterday to table a motion to remove the group's first vice president from office for calling a new member "poor white trash."
Eugene Dewitt Kinlow, president of the political organization, read aloud a statement disassociating the group from the slur used by Mary Cuthbert at a meeting last month.
"These comments are embarrassing," Kinlow said. "Our party welcomes everyone. We are aware there are increasing tensions between newcomers . . . and blacks and whites in our ward, as in other wards across the city."
But instead of defusing the controversy over Cuthbert's comments, yesterday's meeting produced more tension.
As Kinlow read his statement, several in the crowd of about 80 people yelled that he was out of order. Cuthbert and Sandra Seegars, the group's second vice president, said Kinlow was wrong because the executive committee had directed him to make the statement at its next general meeting, on Friday. Yesterday's gathering was not a general meeting, but a special session to take a straw poll on the candidates running in the District's Jan. 13 nonbinding Democratic presidential primary.
As soon as Kinlow finished, the group's recording secretary, Cynthia Kain, made a motion to start the process of removing Cuthbert. The group's bylaws call for officers to be notified by certified mail two weeks before they are to be removed for cause.
But opponents of the motion said no action should be taken until Friday's meeting, and the measure was tabled.
"I move that Kinlow be recalled," Seegars then shouted. "I'm getting out of here. This is a joke."
Others said that all the organization's officers were at fault for not condemning Cuthbert's comments sooner and for letting the controversy fester.
"How about all of you be recalled?" Rahim Jenkins asked.
"All y'all need to get to stepping," Joyce Scott chimed in. "Anyone who supports that kind of hatred needs to go."
Cuthbert made her comments during a Nov. 22 meeting at which Kinlow nominated Kirsten Burgard, who is white, to the group's legislative and issues committee and she was elected to head the panel.
Cuthbert called Burgard "poor white trash" and "poor white trailer trash."
In an interview after yesterday's meeting, Cuthbert said she regrets her statements and has decided to apologize to Burgard, who is the first white person to serve on the group's executive committee.
"It's wrong," Cuthbert said outside the meeting at the Washington Highlands Branch Library in Southwest Washington. "I know it's wrong. When the time comes, I will do my apology."
She reiterated to other members, however, that she will not resign over the incident.
Just feet away from Cuthbert, Burgard handed out Howard Dean presidential campaign stickers. Cuthbert did not address Burgard, who was not at the meeting during the contentious debate.
Kinlow last week called on Cuthbert to step down and said he feared that the episode would cause members to stop being as active in the group.
But Calvin Lockridge, a founder of the group, said after yesterday's meeting that although he was not pleased with Cuthbert's comments, he wanted to ensure that she be treated fairly.
"Do I get along with Mary Cuthbert?" Lockridge said. "No, I don't. But I'm not going to allow her to be railroaded by this organization."
Lockridge said that he understood Cuthbert's frustration about Burgard's nomination and that the group should empower black people economically and politically.
"Why would you appoint a white person to be head of your legislative and issues committee?" Lockridge said. "White people don't understand our issues."
Lafayette Barnes, who ran against Kinlow's Unity Slate in the group's September election, said anyone who supports bigotry does not represent the Democratic Party.
"This is not a personal attack," he said. "This is about principle. The Democratic Party has always been about civil rights and human rights."
After the meeting, Barnes told Cuthbert that he loved her but that she must step down.
"I don't have to step down," Cuthbert answered.
© 2003 The Washington Post Company
We all know it, but it's still annoying when you see it. Racism goes one way. A government official can use the word "niggardly" (a non-racist word, used in a non-racist context) and be forced to resign because it "sounds" like a racist word, but someone can make open and obviously racist comments towards a white person, and it doesnt require immediate resignation, or possibly any resignation at all.
Bleh, I love double standards.
Ward 8 Democrats Shelve Official's Ouster Over Slur
'White Trash' Remark Decried by Group's Leader
By Yolanda Woodlee
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, December 14, 2003; Page C01
In a meeting that erupted into a shouting match, members of the Ward 8 Democrats voted yesterday to table a motion to remove the group's first vice president from office for calling a new member "poor white trash."
Eugene Dewitt Kinlow, president of the political organization, read aloud a statement disassociating the group from the slur used by Mary Cuthbert at a meeting last month.
"These comments are embarrassing," Kinlow said. "Our party welcomes everyone. We are aware there are increasing tensions between newcomers . . . and blacks and whites in our ward, as in other wards across the city."
But instead of defusing the controversy over Cuthbert's comments, yesterday's meeting produced more tension.
As Kinlow read his statement, several in the crowd of about 80 people yelled that he was out of order. Cuthbert and Sandra Seegars, the group's second vice president, said Kinlow was wrong because the executive committee had directed him to make the statement at its next general meeting, on Friday. Yesterday's gathering was not a general meeting, but a special session to take a straw poll on the candidates running in the District's Jan. 13 nonbinding Democratic presidential primary.
As soon as Kinlow finished, the group's recording secretary, Cynthia Kain, made a motion to start the process of removing Cuthbert. The group's bylaws call for officers to be notified by certified mail two weeks before they are to be removed for cause.
But opponents of the motion said no action should be taken until Friday's meeting, and the measure was tabled.
"I move that Kinlow be recalled," Seegars then shouted. "I'm getting out of here. This is a joke."
Others said that all the organization's officers were at fault for not condemning Cuthbert's comments sooner and for letting the controversy fester.
"How about all of you be recalled?" Rahim Jenkins asked.
"All y'all need to get to stepping," Joyce Scott chimed in. "Anyone who supports that kind of hatred needs to go."
Cuthbert made her comments during a Nov. 22 meeting at which Kinlow nominated Kirsten Burgard, who is white, to the group's legislative and issues committee and she was elected to head the panel.
Cuthbert called Burgard "poor white trash" and "poor white trailer trash."
In an interview after yesterday's meeting, Cuthbert said she regrets her statements and has decided to apologize to Burgard, who is the first white person to serve on the group's executive committee.
"It's wrong," Cuthbert said outside the meeting at the Washington Highlands Branch Library in Southwest Washington. "I know it's wrong. When the time comes, I will do my apology."
She reiterated to other members, however, that she will not resign over the incident.
Just feet away from Cuthbert, Burgard handed out Howard Dean presidential campaign stickers. Cuthbert did not address Burgard, who was not at the meeting during the contentious debate.
Kinlow last week called on Cuthbert to step down and said he feared that the episode would cause members to stop being as active in the group.
But Calvin Lockridge, a founder of the group, said after yesterday's meeting that although he was not pleased with Cuthbert's comments, he wanted to ensure that she be treated fairly.
"Do I get along with Mary Cuthbert?" Lockridge said. "No, I don't. But I'm not going to allow her to be railroaded by this organization."
Lockridge said that he understood Cuthbert's frustration about Burgard's nomination and that the group should empower black people economically and politically.
"Why would you appoint a white person to be head of your legislative and issues committee?" Lockridge said. "White people don't understand our issues."
Lafayette Barnes, who ran against Kinlow's Unity Slate in the group's September election, said anyone who supports bigotry does not represent the Democratic Party.
"This is not a personal attack," he said. "This is about principle. The Democratic Party has always been about civil rights and human rights."
After the meeting, Barnes told Cuthbert that he loved her but that she must step down.
"I don't have to step down," Cuthbert answered.
© 2003 The Washington Post Company
We all know it, but it's still annoying when you see it. Racism goes one way. A government official can use the word "niggardly" (a non-racist word, used in a non-racist context) and be forced to resign because it "sounds" like a racist word, but someone can make open and obviously racist comments towards a white person, and it doesnt require immediate resignation, or possibly any resignation at all.
Bleh, I love double standards.