A nurse, Michele Smith, posted a racially insensitive “opinion” regarding the murder of George Floyd via her Facebook social media page. You can view it here. 

Many concerned citizens have pushed to have her removed from her position immediately without pay following this post. She has since removed the post, but not because of remorse, but because she got tired of all the comments on it telling her she was not right for what she said. 

I received a response from JRMC via Facebook Messenger stating that my complaint had been received but that matters were private concerning human resource claims. You can view it here. 

We believe that JRMC needs to let the citizens know whether or not she will be released from her position. As a predominately black/African American town in the Arkansas Delta, it is imperative that we know our healthcare facilities have us in mind. Her post was not aligned with their mission, vision, and goes against their discrimination notice they have posted on their website.

After she is fired from her position we believe that you all should implement Cultural/Racial Sensitivity Training that is a requirement for ALL STAFF and that it is reoccurring on a yearly basis.

• https://www.jrmc.org/about/about-jefferson-regional/   

• https://www.jrmc.org/notice-of-nondiscrimination/

If she continues to work there, how will we as citizens know if we will be cared for based off of our level of illness and not based off the color of our skin or possible criminal record? 

This is also a concern for the Pine Bluff Police Department.

There has also been information that has surfaced of Michele Smith's husband, Nathan Smith who has also posted racially insensitive information on his social media platform, you can view it here. This is  significant because he also serves the Pine Bluff, AR community as a police officer at PBPD. It seems as though this family has no discernment regarding race and should be held accountable for their words. He himself has already has several write ups with PBPD (you can view them here in the comments section) and it makes us wonder why he is still employed as an officer.

We are also asking that Nathan Smith be removed from the police force right along with his wife, Michele Smith being removed from her position as a nurse at JRMC.

We demand action! 
Please sign our petition as we move forward to get the answers the community in Jefferson County, Arkansas deserves to hear.

Thank you.