Condemn Sheriff Bizzell's Derogatory Statements about Latinos
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Author:
n/a -
Send To:
Johnston County Commissioners
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Sponsored By:
Civil RIghts and Immigrants Rights Organizations in NC -
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To:
The Honorable Commissioner Cookie Pope, Chairman
The Honorable Commissioner Wade M. Stewart, Vice-Chairman
The Honorable Commissioner Allen L. Mims, Jr.
The Honorable Commissioner Jeffrey P. Carver
The Honorable Commissioner W. Ray Woodall
The Honorable Commissioner DeVan Barbour
The Honorable Commissioner Tony Braswell
We respectfully address each of you on behalf of a coalition of organizations representing concerned citizens from Johnston County and across North Carolina. As you are aware Sheriff Steve Bizzell was recently quoted in the Raleigh News & Observer making numerous inflammatory comments about the Latino community of Johnston County. These remarks are evidence of deep racial and ethnic hostility in the Sheriffs own personal beliefs, as well as an indication that racial prejudice is alive and well in the community in which he operates and makes such comments so freely.
Sheriff Bizzells remarks raise serious doubts about his departments ability to protect and serve all residents of Johnston County regardless of race or ethnicity. His demonstrated conduct is unbecoming of a public official and it conflicts with his sworn duty to uphold justice. Blanket stereotypes made by the Countys top law enforcement official are especially alarming because these sentiments are highly likely reflected in the actions of the Deputies under his supervision. A publicly elected official has a duty to uphold, apply and enforce the laws without regard to race, ethnicity or national origin.
Stereotypes such as those expressed by Sheriff Bizzell tear at the fabric of our North Carolina communities by encouraging our worst tendencies toward fear and misunderstanding of those who are not Whitestereotypes we had hoped were long gone and that we, as a nation, have tried to remedy. The Sheriffs comments are dehumanizing and vilifying of the Latino community, and they are echoes of a history in which African-Americans were terrorized and treated as less than human in our state. Such remarks will surely alienate a significant population of Johnston County who has entrusted its safety to the Sheriffs Department.
As concerned North Carolina residents, we urge you to give this matter your full consideration and attention by requesting Sheriff Bizzells immediate resignation. Sheriff Bizzells behavior is an embarrassment to our great state. As members of the Board of Commissioners, it is incumbent upon you to take a stand against intolerance and racial profiling in your County. Furthermore, we urge you to voice your condemnation against inflammatory rhetoric and racist conduct. We trust in your leadership to affirm the value and contributions of all residents of your County as well as in your courage to correct the wrongs committed by Sheriff Bizzell as soon as possible.
The Honorable Commissioner Cookie Pope, Chairman
The Honorable Commissioner Wade M. Stewart, Vice-Chairman
The Honorable Commissioner Allen L. Mims, Jr.
The Honorable Commissioner Jeffrey P. Carver
The Honorable Commissioner W. Ray Woodall
The Honorable Commissioner DeVan Barbour
The Honorable Commissioner Tony Braswell
We respectfully address each of you on behalf of a coalition of organizations representing concerned citizens from Johnston County and across North Carolina. As you are aware Sheriff Steve Bizzell was recently quoted in the Raleigh News & Observer making numerous inflammatory comments about the Latino community of Johnston County. These remarks are evidence of deep racial and ethnic hostility in the Sheriffs own personal beliefs, as well as an indication that racial prejudice is alive and well in the community in which he operates and makes such comments so freely.
Sheriff Bizzells remarks raise serious doubts about his departments ability to protect and serve all residents of Johnston County regardless of race or ethnicity. His demonstrated conduct is unbecoming of a public official and it conflicts with his sworn duty to uphold justice. Blanket stereotypes made by the Countys top law enforcement official are especially alarming because these sentiments are highly likely reflected in the actions of the Deputies under his supervision. A publicly elected official has a duty to uphold, apply and enforce the laws without regard to race, ethnicity or national origin.
Stereotypes such as those expressed by Sheriff Bizzell tear at the fabric of our North Carolina communities by encouraging our worst tendencies toward fear and misunderstanding of those who are not Whitestereotypes we had hoped were long gone and that we, as a nation, have tried to remedy. The Sheriffs comments are dehumanizing and vilifying of the Latino community, and they are echoes of a history in which African-Americans were terrorized and treated as less than human in our state. Such remarks will surely alienate a significant population of Johnston County who has entrusted its safety to the Sheriffs Department.
As concerned North Carolina residents, we urge you to give this matter your full consideration and attention by requesting Sheriff Bizzells immediate resignation. Sheriff Bizzells behavior is an embarrassment to our great state. As members of the Board of Commissioners, it is incumbent upon you to take a stand against intolerance and racial profiling in your County. Furthermore, we urge you to voice your condemnation against inflammatory rhetoric and racist conduct. We trust in your leadership to affirm the value and contributions of all residents of your County as well as in your courage to correct the wrongs committed by Sheriff Bizzell as soon as possible.
70 Signatures
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Linda Cullen
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Warrenton, NC
- Comments
- These attitudes must go. There is no place for this in NC or anywhere in this world
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Robert Sanchez-Langston
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Tobaccoville
- Comments
- I am a retired and disabled Gulf War veteran and currently a social worker. I find this appauling.
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Bonnie McManus
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Orange
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Bridgette Burge
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Wake
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John Ribу
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Orange
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Rosa Solorzano
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Morrisville
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Paula Gildner
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Orange
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Jenny Snead Williams
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Durham
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Laura Premack
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Chapel Hill
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Ben Reed
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Chapel Hill (Durham)
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Esther Gabara
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Durham
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Bethany Remington
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Orange
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Sandy Smith-Nonini
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Durham
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Marta Sanchez
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Alamance
- Comments
- В
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Jazmin Varela
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Durham
- Comments
- В
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Teresa Chapa
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Durham
- Comments
- В
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Daniella Onofrio
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- WAke
- Comments
- It is a shame that such predjudice still exist in NC
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Mary Kersgard
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Orange
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Jeff Bryant
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Chapel Hill
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Dr. Christopher Gaffney
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Durham
- Comments
- get gone
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Sharon P. Holland
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Durham
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Manuel Garcia
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Wake
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Dani Martinez-Moore
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Raleigh
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Rev. Denise Cumbee Long
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Wake
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gaspar gonzalez
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- goldsboro,wayne
- Comments
- itshould avoid the kind of comments specially to the public for the position that he helds , please check with the sheriff of wayne county that is also a republican like him and it has a much better rapport with the hispanic population, thank you
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Lauren Thie
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Carrboro (Orange County)
- Comments
- Justice cannot be served by someone who does not respect the citizens or residents of North Carolina. We need law officials that support us and support the ENTIRE community.
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Saba Assar
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Durham
- Comments
- There is no room for such hatred from a person sworn to protect!
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Stacey Bonilla
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Charlotte
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Holly Ackerman
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Durham
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Ecaterina Diaconescu
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Chapel Hill
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Sarah Colwell
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Chapel Hill
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Nicole Land
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Whiteville
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Rachel Escobar
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Wake
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Alexis Silver
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Carrboro, NC
- Comments
- I think Sheriff Bizzell's comments were evidence of his extreme ignorance and racism, and undoubtedly show that he is unable of fairly enforcing policies in his country.
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Michele DeRose
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Durham
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Dr. Charles D. Thompson, Jr.
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Durham
- Comments
- I have worked in Johnston County with students and want to be sure that my students, some of whom are Latino and in good standing at my university, are safe and respected in the community. Fair law enforcement is essential for these students and everyone else.
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Rachel Cohn
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Durham
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nahid
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Raleigh
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Shanna Bryant
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Chapel Hill
- Comments
- Sheriff Bizzell should be fired and be required to do community service for the Latino community.
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Cheryl Gant
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Greensboro
- Comments
- It is phenomenal that in 2008 people in positions of authority refuse to take the time to educate themselves about the constituents they serve. This is the thing to remember. Public servants often forget that they are put in thier positions to SERVE. Such wilfull ignorance from a public servant is inexcusable.
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Atif Mohiuddin
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Burke County
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Rosie Rangel
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Durham
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Gerardo Andres Cisneros
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Durham
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Alison Amoroso
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Wake
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Jesse Ramos
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Caldwell County
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Maria G. Sanchez
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Durham
- Comments
- Stereotyping and racial profiling should not be tolarated from public servants. Mexican and Mexican-Americans demand respect.
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Rachel Zwiacher
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Chapel Hill
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Soodi
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- Raleigh, USA
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beckie moriello
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- durham
- Comments
- imagine the outrage if he had said that about blacks
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Kalli Smith
- City (or County) in North Carolina
- New Hanover
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70
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