The following is a release from Hutch in Harmony. You can click here to read the response from Hutchinson City Manager Jeff Cantrell who took time during Tuesday’s Hutchinson City Council meeting to address the human relations position.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 3, 2020
On Saturday, October 31, multiple Black and Brown residents of Hutchinson reported being followed, harassed, or lambasted by racially and sexually aggressive slurs. Drivers flashing Nazi salutes, crossing over the center line and almost hitting oncoming cars, and other dangerous behaviors threatened public safety. But for those who perpetuated these actions while participating in the Trump parade, there will be few consequences.
Why? Because the one person appointed to a position created to defend the rights of all Hutchinson residents to live in peace and safety was temporarily suspended from her position three days earlier on October 28. Victims like the young Black woman simply walking down the sidewalk, who was followed and harassed, have nowhere to lodge their complaints because our city manager suspended our Human Relations Officer, Datjaeda Moore.
As Hutch in Harmony, we have fought hard for the protections a Human Relations Officer affords Hutchinson residents. This position makes a tremendous difference in the ability of Black, Brown, LGBTQ+, disabled, and elderly folks’ ability to live and thrive in Hutchinson. That’s why we feel the public has a right to know the political games being played with this position.
Moore appeared in a video series to talk about candidate Jason Probst and his impact on our community. Many members of the community from both parties, including others with leadership positions in City Hall, participated in this video series. However, after the series was released, Moore was told that because of her participation in the video project and other efforts she's undertaken to impact policy, she was being suspended until sometime after the election. Why was she singled out when other leaders were able to speak of Probst's positive community impact and when her job is specifically intended to help address inequities in City policies?
Part of the job description of the Human Relations Officer is to inform policy as it relates to those listed as protected classes. Moore is, at present, a contracted worker with the city, and will only become a full-time employee in January, when the position moves to full-time hours with subpoena powers. Her current job description does not forbid her from engaging local candidates. Especially while others in city leadership participated and were not suspended from their positions, this action is a violation of trust. Why was Moore, the only Black woman in the series, the only one singled out for suspension?
Whatever the intent, these actions effectively silenced one of our community’s most important champions for equality days before an election. Not being an elected position, the city manager is bound to be non-partisan in the handling of all affairs. Silencing Moore, one of the very few people of color in City Hall, appears to be an attempt to suppress the voices of minorities and keep the status quo intact. The outcome of these actions favors one political party, which it now appears the city manager is working with in tandem. Where will Black and Brown voters go if they experience voter intimidation and suppression at the polls today?
We are unwilling to revert to the days where people of color were forced to accept the results of actions intended to silence and censure their work for progress. We thought we’d grown beyond that, as a community, yet here we are.
We call on city leadership to right these actions. We call on our community to act: call Jeff Cantrell (city manager) at 620-694-2611 and Paul Brown, city attorney, at 620-694-2641. Demand restoration of our Human Relations Officer to her position and transparency regarding this matter.