Alleged White Supremacist Makes Nice with Jena's Mayor: We Ask Mayor If He Made Nice Back
What a day.
We were already planning to go live with information on the lynching threats made towards the Jena 6.
And, because we like to cover an issue from many different angles, we decided to speak with Richard Barrett, a protester and blogger who calls himself a "nationalist," and has been called a white supremacist by several news outlets.
While on his Web site, I noticed that he had what looked like an interview with Jena, La., mayor Murphy McMillan. It read, in part:
Richard Barrett: I just wanted to let you know that people all over this country support you, the town of Jena, young Justin Barker and Justin Sloan and their friends and that I support you, as well.Mayor Murphy McMillan: Thank you. We know that we do have support from all over.
Barrett: I just want to encourage you not to be intimidated by these invaders. They have tried this before, in other places, but, just like the British occupying Boston, they will soon be gone.
McMillan: Yes, on Friday, the sun will come up, just the same, and we will be just the same, too. You are a lawyer, right?
Barrett: Yes, and I would like to arrange to set aside some place for those opposing the colored folks or find out if you have such a place in mind.
McMillan: Actually, you are the first one to ask about that.......
Barrett: I was in Forsyth County, Georgia, where they tried the same thing, to barge in and make demands on the small town. I represented the white folks and we beat all of their demands. People had a tendency to just show up in opposition and I helped to keep them organized and positive. I'll try to do that in Jena, for whoever shows up.
McMillan: At the courthouse is kind of the main point, so you might want to be over there. But, cars will be lined up pretty far, so it may be hard to get in and out of town, for a while. We have only two lanes.
Barrett: I remember the phrase, "Come, let's reason together." I am glad that we had a chance to do that, Mayor, and thank you for taking the time to speak with me. I went down to help Judge Richard Lee at Alexandria, when he and the three little girls there were under attack.
McMillan: Yes, I remember that. Your moral-support means a lot.
So, was Barrett legitimately warm-and-fuzzy with the Mayor of Jena? Had they actually had a conversation, let alone an interview? And did the mayor of Jena realize that now the first thing that came up if you typed in his name and his city's name in Google was a link to the interview by this alleged white supremacist?
Well, we put out calls to Mayor McMillan, who replied by e-mail, and we got this:
Thank you very much for your email. We are grateful for your bringing this to our attention. I was contacted by Mr. Barrett Tuesday prior to the rally. We had no idea who he is or of his affiliation. The statements you provided me are inaccurate in that I do not recall his using the term "invaders" at any point. In terms of his wanting to use a portion of the town to "oppose these colored folks," it was my impression in responding to him that regardless of his philosophy, if he wanted to exercise his rights of free speech I had to be accommodating rather than oppositional. I did not know I was being interviewed. I do not want my name or my town associated in any way with any white supremacist group or any group that preaches race hate. I indeed want the alleged interview removed from his site. My position is very accurately set out in the joint statement released yesterday where I, the DA, the sheriff, and the police chief pledged to protect any person associated with this case from persons wanting to engage in vigilante justice. We do not endorse violence of any kind, as set out in the statement. I also want to again point out that the persons who visited out town for the rally conducted themselves in a most exemplary manner and we are most grateful for that. Now that I know about Mr. Barrett's inaccurate statements contained in your email, I will insist that the conversation be removed from his website immediately.
Then I asked if he had truly accepted Barrett's support, and the mayor sent this:
To supplement my earlier response, I also take strong exception to the part where I am quoted as saying "Your moral support is appreciated." That statement was not made. I did say "We would welcome your prayers that we have a safe rally". In no way would I encourage a group espousing race hatred coming to our town. My entire thrust in the conversation was that I was hopeful for a peaceful rally without incident. For anyone to try to twist my words to bring about a conclusion that I or my town would support a white supremacist group is repugnant to me. I hope my position is clear on this and thank you again for having contacted me.
It raises (among others) the question: what constitutes good leadership in a time when your community is divided? I remember during the case of the shooting of a young man named Patrick Dorismond in New York City by an undercover police officer, Mayor Rudy Giuliani released Dorismond's juvenile records at the time of the investigation -- something that was unlawful to do. By releasing those documents, many New Yorkers felt he sided with the police and was not willing to mount a thorough investigation.
In the case of Jena, the tensions are, if anything, even higher.
What should the mayor have done, and what should be continue to do?
And how should community members, families of the Jena 6, and the many observers across the country do in the face of hate threats?
2:08 PM ET | 09-25-2007 | permalink
