The Board of County Commissioners Meeting on Thursday, September 17, the Board adopted the following statement by a vote of 4 to 3 (Ashcraft, Klika and Brown voting against):
"The Board of County Commissioners of Johnson County, Kansas does not agree with or approve elements of or the tone of a recent social media post by Commissioner Mike Brown. The Board of County Commissioners does agree with the Constitutional provisions of free speech and the right of citizens to bear arms. A top priority of the commission and our community is public safety. Both safety of our law enforcement officers, deputies and police officers as well as the safety of our community remains the BOCC’s strongest commitment. Words Do Matter. Words that are easily understood to imply that our public safety agencies cannot keep our community safe should be rejected. Commissioners’ communications should also show respect for the diversity of our county workforce and the larger community. The BOCC serves and advocates for all of Johnson County and should do so in a respectful manner that promotes understanding and unity in our community."
This statement does nothing to acknowledge that Mike Brown, Johnson County 6th District Commissioner, made racist, violence-inciting public comments about an armed insurrection. Brown’s threats to take up arms against those who would move us forward to a more just society reflect those used throughout history by white supremacists to control Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) with deadly violence. We won’t be silent. We won’t tolerate Mike Brown’s racism. He needs to resign. A slap on the wrist by the Board of Commissioners IS NOT ENOUGH.
End White Silence. Black Lives Matter.
It is our view that this reprimand is insufficient.
Next actions:
1) End White Silence: Confront Commissioner Brown’s Racism in JOCO Support and attend this rally in Olathe September 26 from 11-1. Location TBD (event found here: https://www.facebook.com/events/656095018362570/ )
Background Info on the sponsoring organization and details on the event: SURJ KC organizes white people for racial justice in accountability with BIPOC for a multi-racial movement for racial justice. We call on our white community members across our metro to take on the responsibility of speaking out against Brown’s actions and racism in JOCO. Brown’s public racist threats affect folks across our metro and need a public anti-racist response. We ask, “Does Mike Brown’s racist, violent comments represent you and represent the values of JOCO?” ****MASKS & SOCIAL DISTANCING REQUIRED **** Exact location in Olathe TBA. Follow SURJ KC - Showing Up for Racial Justice, Kansas City for updates.
2) Email commissioners naming the blatant racism in the post from Commissioner Brown & ask Chairman Eilert to acknowledge it as well. Additionally- renew the call for Chairman Eilert to remove Mike Brown from the Vice Chair Position.
Contact Info:
Chairman Ed Eilert
913.715.0500
Ed.Eilert@jovogov.org
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Becky Fast, 1st District
913.715.0431
Becky.Fast@jocogov.org
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Jim Allen, 2nd District
913.715.0432
Jim.Allen@jocogov.org
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Steve Klika, 3rd District
913.715.0433
Steve.klika@jocogov.org
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Janeé Hanzlick, 4th District
913.715.0434
Janee.Hanzlick@jocogov.org
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Michael Ashcraft
913.715.0435
Michael.ashcraft@jocogov.org
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Mike Brown
913.715.0436
mike.brown@jocogov.org
#EndWhiteSilence #RacismInJoCo