BLEVINS, Ark.-Civil rights advocates protesting the wearing of blackface by a white school board member in rural Hempstead County, Ark., clashed Monday evening with the board's president and the school district's superintendent.
Board member Ted Bonner, who posted photos of himself taken at a Halloween party on Facebook-in blackface, wearing overalls and fake, crooked teeth while holding a sign that read "Blak (sic) lives matters"-mumbled loudly as he pushed his way through a crowd of media, protesters and members of the public who assembled in the Blevins Ark., School District administration building. Bonner's entrance occurred as NAACP Arkansas State Conference President Rizelle Aaron addressed members of the community seated in chairs about an hour before a 7 p.m. school board meeting was scheduled to begin.
"The NAACP is not about black folks," Aaron said. "We're about civil rights and human rights for all people. We are here for all the citizens of Blevins."
Bonner's mocking of the Black Lives Matter movement has sparked local and national outrage, but Bonner has refused to resign. When protesters and media arrived, Superintendent Billy Lee allowed them to use the administration building with the caveat they quit the public discussion five minutes before the meeting began.
"We are here to get a resolution, a resignation," Miller County NAACP President Ulysses Brewer said. "When you see that (black)face, you think about aggression, oppression, and hatred," Brewer said. "What's the message he's trying to send to the children at this school district?"
Bess Gamble Williams of Texarkana, a civil rights advocate and spokeswoman for Texarkana Area Women Veterans Outreach Group and Taking Action Against Bullies, thanked those in attendance for "speaking out and raising a voice."
Williams, a 20-year Marine Corps veteran, told the crowd she has sworn to protect her country against enemies, "foreign and domestic."
"That man has no honor," Williams said. "You made a decision to paint yourself black so you could get a cheap laugh."
Williams and the other speakers encouraged the community members to ask questions and express their concerns.
"I am a mom with four biracial kids," a white woman said. "My 10-year-old daughter saw these pictures and she said she's sad because she can't wash her black face off."
As Aaron continued speaking, a friend and supporter of Bonner's stood and apologized for the controversial board member.
"I probably shouldn't say this but I am. I have a rebel flag," the man said. "This is not about you. We all make mistakes."
Aaron quickly realized that Bonner was in the room.
"I didn't recognize him without the blackface," Aaron said. "I've reached out to him but he hasn't responded."
A woman seated in the audience spoke.
"If Ted is really sorry, then he should be the one apologizing to us," the woman said. "And if he's truly sorry then he should step down."
Aaron continued.
"What you have done affects every single African American in the United States, not just here in Blevins," Aaron said to Bonner. "Resign and let this school district move forward. You did this to demean us, to make us feel inferior. A dark face is a joke?"
Long before his deadline of 6:55 p.m., Superintendent Lee threatened Aaron, the media and others with police intervention if they didn't vacate.
"Time for this to end," Lee said. "I'm tired of the bashing."
In November press statements, Lee and board president Justice West lamented Bonner's statements and described them as incongruous with the district's policies. Lee also said there is no mechanism for removing a school board member.
At Monday's gathering, Lee and West expressed their belief that the school's administration building was a private area.
But Aaron maintained he would not be intimidated.
"You'd like to see me arrested wouldn't you Mr. Bonner? We'll be here every meeting, we'll come to your business, we're coming until your term ends or until you resign," Aaron promised. "The only way to fix this is for Blackface Bonner to go."
Bonner spoke over the admonishments of a fellow school board member and the superintendent.
"I've had black kids and Mexican kids come to my house and sit at my table," Bonner said, adding that a child of color to whom he showed his blackface photo found it funny.
Aaron asked for those who support Bonner remaining on the school board to speak, but silence filled the room.
"These people no longer want you to represent them," Aaron said. "You just don't have the integrity to resign."
Lee walked out of the building and spoke with members of local law enforcement and the Arkansas State Police, who told him citizens and the media have a right to assemble in public buildings and to attend public school board meetings.
"This is not your building," Aaron said as he looked at West, shortly after West echoed Lee's statements and threatened the crowd with law enforcement.
Aaron gestured to the citizens and said, "It's theirs."
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