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of Clare County
Editor’s note: Readers should be aware that this story reports on racist slurs.

Citizen Informs BOC of Bigotry, Racism Concern

‘I’ve Seen Enough…It’s Not Acceptable’

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Editor’s note: Readers should be aware that this story reports on racist slurs.

HARRISON – During the first Public Comment period at the Oct. 19 meeting of the Clare County Board of Commissioners, a resident of Redding Township came forward with a recording he wished the commissioners to hear.

John Thompson introduced himself, and before playing the recording, asked commissioners if they were aware of the recent actions taken in Los Angeles against city council officials based on their use of racist comments while serving in their capacity as public officials.

In describing the recording, Thompson said, “This is some disgusting behavior by my township supervisor and some of the board members. This has been going on for quite some time – there’s so many different elements to this that it’s not even funny.”

He then advised that some of the recording, which included video and audio, might be disturbing to listeners.

The first portion of the recording was of a man describing someone who went to Hawaii, and expounding that “Well, he’s a Pineapple [N-word], then….” and continued to disparage the person under discussion.

“If you notice, the township supervisor laughs about it,” Thompson said, attributing an additional comment to the township clerk. “This isn’t appropriate; there’s no place in our township government that this needs to take place.”

He said the recording was done in May or June at the Redding Township Transfer Station, that he would need to check his records to be specific, and also said the man who voiced the racist slurs was not on the board, but rather a volunteer for the township.

 “He has signed a waiver to be at that transfer station and to work,” Thompson said. “So, he is technically a public employee.”

Thompson then noted that, for those who didn’t catch the first part of the recording, he would repeat what had been said.

“He said ‘I put my life in the hands of a [N-word].’

“There’s no place that this should take place,” Thompson said.

Commissioner Sandra Bristol asked if Thompson had taken the video, and he replied that he was the one who was there and heard it. When Bristol then inquired whether Thompson had addressed the man making the racist remarks, he said it was not his place to address that man.

“I thought that my township should step up and take care of the situation, and it has not,” he said.

When Bristol asked if he had spoken to the township supervisor about it, Thompson spoke of having talked to the supervisor repeatedly about many situations.

“This is just the start of it,” Thompson said, adding that he had been defamed, which included accusations of his having sexually assaulted women in the township office.

He went on to say he and his wife had been gay-bashed, and their sexuality intentionally misrepresented. He also spoke of the intimidation of a child, adding that every bit of what he had been citing to the commissioners was on video.

“It’s disgusting,” he said. “I’ve been punched in the face because of this.”

It was explained that the sheriff’s department had been called out, and that the whole issue had started over property owner rights. He said his property is non-conforming and that his township supervisor doesn’t understand that. Thompson said his efforts to get information from the supervisor included sending Freedom of Information Act requests to the township which Thompson said he believed had been thrown into the trash or been improperly handled in other ways.

“I’ve addressed this to a bunch of people, with no success,” Thompson said. “I can’t get anybody to help to do the right thing.”

Thompson said he realized the BOC had no say over things that go on in the township as far as correcting the problems he cited.

“But this problem is out there,” he said. “And it’s not just mine. It’s everybody that’s a resident of that township, or this county.”

When Bristol asked if Thompson had approached the Michigan Attorney General, he said the video had been sent there, but was unaware if it had been received. He added that he had been sending things to the AG since the transfer station incident, and he had contacted different levels of government. That included county commissioners he did not name, but did said he had gained a bit of insight as to how to approach the problem. Still he had seen no success.

Thompson pointed out the U.S. president had even stepped up to some of the things going on in Los Angeles.

“This is just as appalling as what was being said by Nury Martinez [L.A. City Council president who stepped down, then resigned],” he said. “My back’s against the wall right now. They say: ‘See something, say something.’ I’ve seen enough – it’s time for me to say something.”

Thompson also noted his disappointment at having brought the situation to local media [which, to be clear, did not include the Cleaver] and receiving no follow-up.

“There are Blacks in my family and there are Blacks in our communities,” he said. “And that [racist slurs] is not acceptable.”

BOC Chairperson Jeff Haskell told Thompson that some of the people at the meeting may take some time to think about what he had told them and maybe offer Thompson some suggestions.

“That’s why I brought it up,” Thompson said. “And I appreciate your time; I’m sorry to have to do this.”

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