Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 28 April 2011 — Page 7

The Muncie Times • April 28, 2011 * Page 7

News Briefs

Compiled By Andre Scott Calif. NAACP calls on GOP woman who e-mailed message comparing President Obama to a chimp to resign The California State NAACP, last week, lambasted a California Republican's e-mailing of a cartoon depicting President Barack Obama as being from a family of apes. NAACP President Alice Huffman has issued a statement describing the e-mail, sent by Marilyn Davenport, an Orange County Republican Central Committee member, as racist, outrageous and disrespectful. The email shows President Obama’s head on the body of a chimpanzee with two chimp parents alongside him. According to reports, the caption that ran with the photo says: "Now you know why no birth certificate.” This is a direct reference to the so-called “birthers” movement, which seeks to propagate the discredited claim that Obama was born in Kenya rather than the United States, which would have disqualified him from being president. The e-mail resurrects historic Jim Crow-like racist and white supremacist views of black people being less than human and being akin to apes. “There are no ifs, ands, or buts about this cartoon; it is absolutely and posi-

tively racist in nature. There is no way that depicting the President of the United States as less than human can be considered anything but a racist act,” Huffman says in her statement. “History has shown that blacks have been depicted in this fashion in the past to degrade African Americans as not human. Anyone who does not know this history is either ignorant, had their head buried in the sand; or as we. at the NAACP believe, simply racist. We have viewed this cartoon repeatedly and believe, yet again, that racism is alive and blatantly in our midst. "It appears to the NAACP that the election of an African American president has brought to the forefront outright racists who believe their philosophy, degrading the worth of African Americans, once again will be accepted in general. Why else would this cartoon be so easily, and without conscience, distributed so widely.” The California NAACP Conference joined Davenport’s Republican colleagues in calling for her resignation. Davenport, who is a tea party activist and an elected member of the central committee of the Republican Party of Orange County, claimed she felt the e-mail was a joke rather than an insult. Davenport issued two statements. Her first one referred to

the uproar as “much ado about nothing.” With the increase in outrage, her response quickly changed,, as shown by this second statement: "To my fellow Americans and to everyone else who has seen the e-mail I forwarded and was offended by my action, I humbly apologize and ask for your forgiveness of my unwise behavior," Davenport said. "I am an imperfect Christian lady who tries her best to live a Christlike honoring life. "I would never do anything to intentionally harm or berate others, regardless of ethnicity. So I ask for your forgiveness, for I am truly sorry." In her earlier statement, Davenport had said, "In no way did I even consider the fact he's half black when I sent out the email. In fact, the thought never entered my mind, until one or two other people tried to make this about race. We all know a double standard applies regarding this president. I received plenty of e-mails about George Bush that I didn't particularly like, yet there was no 'cry' in the media about them." However, Orange County GOP Chairman Scott Baugh called Davenport’s e-mail "despicable” and told the Associated Press that it "drips with racism and I think she should step down from the committee." Davenport is a member of the tea party, which

national NAACP President Ben Jealous last year decried as having racism within its ranks. Davenport has declined to step down, but Huffman says she will continue to push for her resignation. “It is hard to accept, but the reality is clear that people believe this to this day and is why Davenport felt comfortable disseminating this to her friends,” Huffman said. “The California NAACP calls on Marilyn Davenport to resign from the Orange County Republican Central Committee and if she continues to refuse to, we call for the Orange County Republican Ethics Committee to look into her actions.” Cop who killed black student named ’Officer of the year’ The family of a black Pace University student is infuriated after the police officer responsible for his death was recently named “officer of the year” by his union. According to The New York Post, Aaron Hess of Pleasantville in Westchester County, N.Y. received the honor in early April. But the relatives of slain 20-year-old Danroy “DJ” Henry say the award is an insult, after Hess fatally shot the Pace junior and defensive back outside a bar last October. “What are the requirements [for the award], to

kill a young man?” Henry's mother told the Post. “It's consistent with the arrogant behavior and the insensitivity we have received since Oct. 17. The people of Westchester should be concerned that an officer killed someone and be named Officer of the Year. If they're rewarded for that, I think it'll happen again." The Police Benevolent Association told the Post that Hess was honored for the “dignified and professional manner he's conducted himself throughout his career and ordeal.” The organization stated that they didn't intend to offend the •yAccording to the Associated Press, Henry was killed outside of a bar in Thomwood, N.Y, following Pace University's homecoming game on Oct. 17. When Hess and other officers arrived, responding to reports of a brawl, they approached Henry's car, which was parked in a fire lane. After Hess knocked on Henry's window, the young man sped off. Hess claimed that he fired shots at the student's car after Henry hit Hess with his vehicle and drove away. Autopsy results revealed that Henry's alcohol levels were above the legal limit, but his family insists that he wasn't drunk. Hess was cleared of criminal wrongdoing in continued on page 9