Tuesday night, during Ypsilanti’s City Council meeting, Mayor Beth Bashert, when discussing the re-appointment of Ka’Ron Gaines as a City Human Relations Commissioner, said the following. “Since I will be crucified if I vote against any black person on any commission, I’m going to vote yes,” she said. And, with that, yet another political career here in Ypsilanti may have come to an abrupt end… A protest calling for Bashert to resign has been scheduled for Monday, June 22, in the parking lot behind Puffer Reds (113 West Michigan Avenue), at 4:00 PM.
Here, for those of you who are interested, is the video of City Council meeting. The section in question begins at 3-hour and 39-minute mark. [If you then scroll forward to 4:13, you can hear Council member Nicole Brown asking for an apology on behalf of all of the black individuals on the call, to which Bashert defensively responds, “I’ll consider your comments.”
Bashert, by way of explanation, posted the following on Facebook last night, conceding that her actions “were racist.”
Last night at City Council, I made a biased statement and voted based on that statement. Then I compounded the whole thing by digging in and getting defensive when questioned. All of those actions were racist. I am deeply ashamed and saddened that I did this. I have spent the time since that meeting feeling remorse, shame, and anger at myself.
I understand that none of the terrible feelings I am having at this time come close to the painful experiences Black and Brown people suffer due to racism.
Recently, City Council declared that Racism is a Public Health Issue which impacts everyone. As a white person, unfortunately, I am a racist person because I was raised in a racist culture and because I am an imperfect human being. I care deeply about confronting racism, yet that does not mean that I am not racist. I am trying to confront racism in myself.
I am committed to learning in public and sometimes that entails making mistakes in public. I have made a number of mistakes around race and racism while being mayor. I am grateful for the patience I have received, the teaching that others have provided, and I strive to learn something from each mistake. And I have gone on to make entirely NEW mistakes in public, inevitably.
I continue to take action to educate myself about racism. As a leader, I have helped raise the issue of race in local, state and national interviews and conversations. When the COVID Pandemic put a spotlight on race inequities and disparities in our local and national communities, I acted to protect the residents of the community I represent. As part of that work, I have shown up, donated, written proclamations, endorsed and supported candidates, marched in demonstrations, built friendships across race lines, consulted folks across race lines for solutions, encouraged projects that will help Ypsilanti’s Black community, voted to support progressive actions that target racism, and more. These actions are a sign of my good intent.
I hope that my actions have been better than my words, as I join with others in the fight to end racism. My actions have not been perfect, by far, and I continue to learn.
Last night, I was defensive and frustrated and caused harm as a result. I harmed my fellow council members, especially Mayor Pro Tem Lois Richardson, Nicole Brown, and Anthony Morgan. I harmed City Manager McMullan.
I deeply regret my words and I apologize. I desire to work to repair my relationships with Council members. I hope that these individuals and the community can see their way through to offering me forgiveness, as I seek to do better. But I understand that it is my task alone to tackle.
I am committed to continuing to show up, to learn to be a better ally, and join in the work to end systemic racism. I hope to earn back your respect and I’m grateful for any opportunity to benefit from your help in doing so. I thank you for your kind attention.
I’m inclined to say that, when people indicate a willingness to make amends and grow from their mistakes, they shouldn’t be met with anger. With that said, though, the more that I listen to the Mayor’s comments, the more problematic I find them. I know that some of our more conservative readers will, no doubt, respond by saying, “What’s so racist about this? She voted for Gaines, when everyone else on Council — including the black members of Council — voted against him.” And, yes, I suppose, it would have been more overtly racist had she said that she would be voting against someone because of his color. But, as we know, racism doesn’t always come at night, beneath a sheet. And, thankfully, in this instance, we don’t have to debate whether or not the comment in question was racist, as the Mayor herself concedes that it was. And, that, I suppose, is something that we should be thankful for. She didn’t try to pass it off as humor, or suggest that her colleagues heard something that just wasn’t there.
So, how are we, as a community, going to respond? Are we going to demand that our Mayor leave office, or are we going to give her the opportunity she’s asking for to help her make amends? I’d love hear what others in the community — especially people of color — have to say on the matter.
update: Effective tomorrow morning at 9:00 AM, Beth Bashert will no longer be the Mayor of Ypsilanti.
