Non-bold items are supplementary and related, and include quotes from many of the Black leaders Bashert has disempowered.Įditor’s Note: Beth Bashert is white. [Editor’s Note: Events directly related to Bashert’s disempowerment of Black leadership are in bold. What follows is a fuller timeline of Mayor Bashert’s relationship with Black residents, leaders, and city staff in positions of power in the city:
As of the writing of this article, Bashert has specifically decommissioned at least 4 commissioners of color-3 of whom are Black 3 of whom are women 2 of whom were chairs of their commission. In July, it was discovered that Bashert had appointed only 3 out of 8 eligible applicants of color for positions on city commissions, but appointed 21 out of 26 white applicants for positions on city commissions, and that Bashert had nominated 0 out of 3 Black residents for new positions on city commissions. However, to understand the depths of racism entwined in Bashert’s comment, one must understand the history: Bashert’s record of decommissioning Black and other residents of color from city commissions, and antagonization toward Black Councilmembers, city staff, and residents who could potentially take seats on commissions or on City Council.īashert made inappropriate comments about Anne Brown, Bashert’s mayoral-race opponent, has been consistently dismissive of Mayor Pro-Tem Lois Allen-Richardson and City Manager Frances McMullan-all of whom are Black-and has struck a significant blow to Black and non-Black PoC membership on Ypsilanti’s commissions. During a vote to reinstate Ka’Ron Gaines as a Human Relations Commissioner, Bashert states “since I would be crucified if I vote against any Black person on any commission, I’m gonna vote ‘yes’.” That comment, that has since gone viral, is racist, dehumanizing, and delegitimizing. Ypsilanti, Michigan Mayor Beth Bashert made national news on Wednesday, June 17, 2020, after video surfaced of her comment from the previous night’s City Council meeting (full video here).
0 kommentar(er)
