HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-06-2020 Supporting Documents •
Human Relations&Diversity Board July 7, 2020
City of Ocoee
It has come to a point where I feel the need to write a second open letter to the Human
Relations Diversity Board(HRDB). Individual members of this board
are incredibly crafty in attempts to control the narrative on issues concerning the Ocoee
Massacre. Including these letters into the minutes will give any interested persons the
ability to get a grasp and understanding of all sides and make an informed decision for
themselves.
Individual members of this board have been territorial and unwilling to consider or accept
any contribution from individuals outside the board or members within the board that
may have a difference of opinion. If opinions..or suggestions come from outside this
group,they are met with aggressive dissentron.that can be very intimidating to the person
contributing their opinion or even information supported by specific facts.
The first time I attended an HRDB meeting back in 2018 as a visitor, I mentioned during
the meeting that a descendant of the Ocoee Massacre declared that she saw a sign on the
corner of Bluford and Colonial, displaying a clear warning to African Americans about
coming into Ocoee.The mere mention of this event triggered Mayor Johnson into a rage
in which he reprimanded me in a very aggressive and condescending manner.To be
yelled at for asking a question was my first negative experience participating in
discussions with this board,but not the last.
During the most recent meeting on June 25,2020, a person introduced as a member
whom the board has yet to meet, asked a question in good faith about sourcing the
proposed plaques and coins for the 100th year memorial from a black artist. Chair-elect
Maxwell's forecasted impatience to the question and appeared to be less than appreciative
of being challenged. Chair-elect Maxwell responded by asking the person to identify
herself and stating how long he had been working on the 100th-year memorial project.
His response was disrespectful and condescending to a sitting member of the HRDB. He
then finally offered information on the individual :*at were contacted and then
welcomed any suggestions for black artisx* iupiies that could do the work.
These responses and demonstrated behavior to members or nonmembers, who provide
suggestions, questions, or opinions do not serve in the best interest of the HRDB or
espouse the spirit or intent of the mission.
During the June 25, 2020, special meeting, Chair Crown explained that they have been
working on the 100-yr memorial for three years. During the same meeting, Chair-elect
Maxwell, under questioning, stated that he had only contacted a descendant of the
massacre 48hrs before this meeting.This fact alone clearly leads one to believe that the
HRDB has no interest in involving the descendants of the massacre in the planning of this
event.
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During this meeting, it was stated that all HRDB Subcommittee meetings were posted. I
took this to mean that the descendants should or could have found out about the
subcommittee meetings as posted by searching the convoluted City of Ocoee website.
Many descendants are elderly and may not be computer literate. I firmly believe that the
City of Ocoee and the HRDB owe the descendants more than a posted meeting as an
excuse to deflect their inattention to detail elsewhere. A simple phone call or email
invitation could have been sufficient and niosterlyappreciated. I personally had to
contact the City Clerk to locate the foUrsubisecknInittee meeting minutes that I was unable
to locate online. Of note, the first set of minutes provided were dated May 10, 2018 and
the last set of minutes provided were dated September 20, 2018. I will assume that any
other meetings of this sub-committee were not posted or documented.
The mayor, and individual members,have stated on numerous occasions spanning three
years that they have been rigorously planning and preparing for the 100th-anniversary
ceremony of the Ocoee Massacre of 1920. I was only able to acquire proof of 4
documented meetings. The net result of this planning effort is a two hour ceremony from
4pm to 6pm.
Minutes from the October 3,2019 HRDB meeting, identify that the city staff had no
written memorial program recommendations. During this meeting, I asked Chair-elect
Maxwell what date he and his committee would have a report ready for the board to
review. Chair-elect Maxwell clearly stated that there was no date. Later in the meeting,
after a discussion with Al Butler,city staff representative,Chair-elect Maxwell said that
he would have a full program by the December 2019 meeting.
After three years of planning,the subcomputteet ;had not submitted any written
reports detailing progressive plans for ,
the eiir massacre ceremony.A lack of
agendas, minutes, or detailed reports supportairsy.:belief that the committee has not given
this historic memorial the attention that it deserves. Member Maxwell and member
Crown finally made a presentation to the Ocoee City Council on December 3,2019.This
was my first time viewing this PowerPoint presentation. It was not presented to the
HRDB for advisory. Submitting this presentation to the City Commission without any
input from the HRDB was gross negligence on Chair-elect Maxwell. However, this
presentation was presented to the HRDB at the December 5,2019 meeting.
During the September 12, 2019 HRDB meeting, members of this board showed their
disgust to a representative from Florida State Senator Bracy's office for not being
involved in the planning of Senator Bracy's July in November event held during the
month of November in 2019. These are the same members who,after three years of
planning,have negligently failed to include descendants of the massacre in the
preparation of the 100th-anniversary memorial ceremony.
For the record and a point of reference, several descendants were invited and honored at
the July in November event last year. For the record and a point of reference, the July
Perry Foundation sent a formal request to be invotv°ed in the planning of the 100-year
fir-
memorial. Chair Crown of the HRDB respectfully declined this meeting, stating that the
plans for the 100th-anniversary ceremony are finalized.
A small group of individuals and I were part of a petition in late 2018 to get the City of
Ocoee to sign a proclamation acknowledging the Ocoee Massacre. In trying to get the
City of Ocoee to recognize its dark past,we were deemed as outside agitators. Every
petitioning member of this group is a concerned citizen of the City of Ocoee. It is not lost
that Black people were forced, not of their own accord out of Ocoee in late 1920,and
only returned as recently as late 1980.
Who are these so-called agitators today? Jay Carr, member,City of Ocoee's HRDB,Pam
Grady,Executive Director of the July Perry Foundation, and Larry Brinson, City of
Ocoee Commissioner,District 1.
The current board has severely failed to fulfill the mission statement of the HRDB. It is
my belief that the members of this board,who view me as a problem or agitator,have no
vested interest in change. Therefore, I leave you with a quote from Frederick Douglas:
"Those who profess to favor freedom and ytdepreciate agitation,are people who
want crops without ploughing the ground they want rain without thunder and
lightning; they want the ocean without the"roar of its many waters.The struggle
may be a moral one,or it may be a physical one,or it may be both.But it must be a
struggle.Power concedes nothing without a demand.It never did, and it never
will."
Frederickbo y/ar
Member Carr
Human Relations &Diversity Board
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Human Relations & Diversity Board 7/27/2020
City of Ocoee
As I watch the motorcade of Congressman John Lewis, I have decided to write my
third open letter to this board. I did not plan to write another letter but felt that it
was necessary to place recent events into context. My purpose for writing these
letters is not to inflame controversy, but to ensure that the events that are
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happening in the City of Ocoee are depicted i�a rlyaand accurately.
If any member of this board was not present Or has not viewed the July 21, 2020
Council meeting, I implore that you view it on the city's YouTube page. During
this meeting you will witness utter disrespect of Senator Randolph Bracy and the
July Perry Foundation (JPF) coming from the leadership of this board.
During this meeting, Mayor Johnson berated Senator Bracy and demanded that he
openly provide his home address while he stood at the podium. Mayor Johnson
also criticized the great-grandson of July Perry, Rev. Stephen A. Nunn. I suggest
that you request copies of all communications between the Mayor and the (JPF) in
addition to the communications between the City Clerk's office and the (JPF) so
that you can ascertain the total picture of what transpired.
If you read these communications, you will clearly see where Chair Crown clearly
refused to meet with the (JPF). You will also see that Chair Elect Maxwell refused
to meet with the (JPF) remotely using the video conference capabilities that the
City Clerk's office clearly state they cavi act6Ahodate.
At the June 25`h HRDB meeting, Chair Crown and Chair Elect Maxwell only had a
ceremony slated for October 31, 2020 that would last from 4pm to 6pm. On the
July 21, 2020 City Council meeting, they asked to secure October 31,2020 through
November 8, 2020 for the 100-year memorial, without any known plan to justify
the use of Bill Breeze Park and the event center. It is my opinion that this was a
ploy to ensure that no other organization scheduled an event that would be better
organized and attended than the Human Relations & Diversity Boards (HRDB)
event. As Commissioner Oliver made clear in the July 21st council meeting, the
HRDB has no approved budget. When asked by Commissioner Brinson about
their plans, the only response was that it was a "secret"or "surprise". As a sitting
member of the HRDB, I knew nothing about a "secret" or "surprise" that would
encompass the dates requested. Chair Crown and Chair-Elect Maxwell continue to
embarrass themselves, the HRDB, and the City of Ocoee.
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To bring this all together, a sitting State Senator requested to have an event in
Ocoee to educate the public of the Ocoee Massacre and honor the descendants.
The City of Ocoee, led by the leadership in the HRDB, refused to allow the event
to happen without the HRDB being in total control of the event. This same
leadership within the HRDB in protest, asked this sitting State Senator to cancel
his event in 2019. I am sure that Senator Bracy will more than likely find another
location for his event due to the uncertain nature of this agreement. If the HRDB
wanted his event canceled in 2019, how can Senator Bracy be confident that they
will "allow" his event to be held in 2020.
The HRDB subcommittee only wants to have a "solemn" event commemorating
the 100yr anniversary of the Ocoee Massacre. Senator Bracy's office and the July
Perry Foundation want to have a more upbeat event. I can equate this to the
different ways that cultures honor the dead. Some have funerals and others have
celebrations of life. The City of Ocoee and the HRDB want to dictate how the
descendants memorialize this event.
To my fellow members of the City of Ocoee Human Relations & Diversity Board;
I ask you, "Has the way Mayor Johnson, Chair Crown,and Chair Elect
Maxwell addressed and responded to this issue reflected favorably on you and
th set Sties` `du dn.not have the right to remain
your character?" Concerning e s , y g
silent if you hold a seat on this board, unlessyou consent to the aforementioned
question. If you don't agree, you should speak up. Otherwise your silence
equates to consent. I understand that disagreeing with Mayor Johnson, Chair
Crown, and Chair Elect Maxwell based on recent history may result in being yelled
at, scolded, demeaned, or dismissed. However, at some point, this board must
become true to its mission and purpose.
As a sitting member of this board, I want to ensure that I am on the right side of
history. When this story is told 20 years from now, will you?
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ay Carr
HRDB Board Member
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