While he stopped short of calling them traitors, the Rev. Douglas Parham did not mince words in accusing several African-American civic leaders of “aiding and comforting” Mayor Francis G. Slay following his demotion of Fire Chief Sherman George.
As Parham and supporters of Chief George berated Slay’s attempt to form a “diversity task force” on Tuesday, the following African Americans chose to meet Slay on his turf.
– John Moten Jr., Black Leadership Roundtable president
– Jim Buford, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis president
– Wale Amusa, A. D. E Consulting Services, Inc. CEO
– Anthony Thompson, Kwame Building Group founder and president.
– The Rev. E. G. Shields, Mt. Beulah Missionary Baptist Church pastor.
Also attending the meeting with Slay, his Chief of Staff Jeff Rainford and Director of Public Safety Charles Bryson were state Sen. Jeff Smith and Martin Rafanan, National Conference for Community and Justice of Metropolitan St. Louis executive director.
Parham said the black community “will not be fooled” by a meeting of Slay and “a group of his favorite cronies.”
“This will not work. It is an insult to our intelligence,” Parham said.
“This camouflages his utter disregard for the black community. This mayor should not receive aid and comfort from these people.”
Then, Parham lowered the boom on several of the meeting’s participants.
“Jim Buford. You lead an organization that was once led by Whitney Young. He would not be proud of you today,” Parham said.
“John Moten. You are supposed to lead the Black Leadership Roundtable. Why help our enemy now?
“Jeff Smith. You ought to be ashamed of yourself. You told us you loved us. Now you betrayed us.”
He also blasted black elelcted officials who have remained quiet.
“There is no safety in silence. It is time to come out of the darkness and let the community know for whom do you stand.”
The lone black elected official at Tuesday’s press conference was state Rep. Jamilah Nasheed.
She said those that met with Slay “are falling into the same trap: divide and conquer the black community.”
Nasheed said, “We cannot continue to fall for that tactic. It’s a slap in the face of the community.”
She called the meeting “a smoke screen” and added, “a united front is the only way to defeat attacks on the black community.”
Buford and Moten requested a meeting with Parham on Wednesday following his comments on their choice to sit with Slay.
Both Moten and Buford were emphatic in stating that “there is not a diversity task force” newly created by the mayor.
However, several prominent African Americans told the American they were contacted to be members of a task force and they declined or withdrew after initially saying they would participate.
Also, the retired Sherman George said he personally asked Buford and Moten not to meet with Mayor Slay at this time regarding his situation. They ignored his plea.
Statement on reinstatement?
Following the meeting yesterday between Moten, Buford and Parham, Moten confirmed that the Black Leadership Roundtable’s Executive Committee had voted unanimously to reinstate George.
Parham and George’s many supporters – whose resistance, in effect, pressured Slay to seek a meeting on race and diversity – have consistently demanded George’s reinstatement.
At the meeting with Moten, Buford and others, however, Slay did not agree to reinstate George.
Moten and others said the mayor did agree to a handful of other things, including:
The selection of new tests for entry-level positions and promotions at the St. Louis Fire Department that reflect and respond to the concerns raised by Chief George.
An investigation by the City into the allegations of cheating in the last test for promotions in the St. Louis Fire Department.
A review of the City’s Personnel Department’s policy, with particular focus on its capabilities to select the appropriate vendors to administer testing within the Fire Department, and the qualifications of its staff to override the recommendations of the chief regarding the vendors’ selection process.
No punitive actions should be taken against fire department personnel who share the chief’s concerns.
“It was about rebuilding trust,” Moten said. “We talked to the mayor about taking a leadership role to get this situation resolved.”
Buford bristled at the notion of being called a crony and said Whitney Young “would indeed be proud of me.”
He said he knew he would be criticized for his action, but said, “I sleep well at night. Some say it’s a sellout. I disagree.”
Buford said he met with Slay “because he is the mayor. He is the one who created this problem, and he is the one who can fix it.”
State Sen. Jeff Smith, whose lawyer was fighting misdemeanor charges against him in connection with a night at the casino gone bad while he was meeting with Slay, said, “It’s hard to make change if you don’t participate.”
Saying that he was only “disturbed” by Sherman George’s demotion, Smith said, “You can’t make positive change standing on the sidelines.”
Thompson, who has worked on numerous projects that received city support during the Slay administration, defended those who attended the meeting from charges of selling out or helping Slay to whitewash his problems.
“Nobody was there to tell the mayor, ‘We’ll go out there and take care of the negatives for you; just keep doing what you’re doing,’” Thompson said.
He said, “The mayor has an opportunity to make this right” and said he was trying to help Slay “mend the racial division in the city for the rest of his tenure.”
Asked if the black community can expect sincere efforts on their behalf from this mayor, Thompson said, “Well, until the black community steps up and takes control of our own situation, we’re always making stabs in the dark.”
Ironically, Rev. Shields stood with Slay in City Hall on May 14, 2002, to announce that the 2002 Progressive National Baptist Convention was coming to St. Louis.
It was originally planned for Cincinnati, but was canceled because of the unresolved racial tension in that city.
Parham did not back down from his harsh criticism of the meeting’s participants
“Those who lend themselves to this fraud must be reprimanded,” he said.
Recall action Saturday
Volunteers are needed for Saturday’s (Nov. 10) recall signature drive.
Anyone interested is asked to meet at Lexington School, 3130 Norwood Ave., at 9 a.m. Saturday.
“Things are going real well,” said Zaki Baruti, director of Citizens to Recall Mayor Slay.
“We thank those that have been coming out.”
Parham said the earliest days of the recall effort “have been better than we expected.”
“People want to help. People want to sign,” he said.
Rally on November 18
A rally for Sherman George will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, November 18 at the Gateway Classic Foundation Building, 2012 Martin Luther King.
Several media outlets have wondered aloud if having rallies and meetings in connection with the Slay/George controversy puts Earl Wilson Jr. in violation of his not-for-profit status.
However, Wilson says they use innuendo “and don’t bother to call me.”
Wilson says he is not in violation of the not-for-profit code and that the rally will be held at the facility.
