Sheriff Where - Bland Died Says There's No Racism In His County

[laserhaas]

Source: Huffington Post citing some LBN points from WaPo

"The average citizen goes about their life seven days a week enjoying it, everybody working together, eating in restaurants together and socializing," he {Waller County Sheriff Glenn Smith} told The Washington Post in a story published Monday. "I just don’t think it exists."

In 2007, the predominantly black Hempstead City Council voted to suspend Smith, who was then Hempstead police chief, for two weeks without pay following allegations of racism against him and four other white officers.

In 2007, DeWayne Charleston, then a Waller County judge, told a black funeral home to help bury an unidentified white woman. There was an outcry over his order, and activists said officials intervened to make sure the white woman wouldn't be buried next to black people.

"This is the most racist county in the state of Texas, which is probably one of the most racist states in the country," Charleston told The Guardian.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/sandra-bland-waller-county-racism_55b78e1de4b0074ba5a61b32

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This pic - above - is from a related story of HuffPo's titled;
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"6 Things You Should Know About The County Where Sandra Bland Died"
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Two items most apropos - is that black students were prosecuted for voting (hence, the protest march). Waller county (as detailed by HuffPo's piece) - is still on the DOJ's watch list/monitoring - to assure equal voting rights.

{Prosecutor} Oliver Kitzman stepped down from his post as Waller County DA in 2004. Black community leaders compared his departure to the Emancipation Proclamation and told the Los Angeles Times that Kitzman "had become a symbol of deep-seated racism."

and - the former Judge (DeWayne Charleston), along with the Mayor of Brookshire (Keith Woods), were 2 of only 3 blacks in office; who claim their race was why they were being target and investigated.

Another point of contention, is Waller's history of racism... as noted by HuffPo

At least 15 lynchings -- the third-greatest amount in the state -- occurred in the county between 1877 and 1950, according to a report released in February by Alabama's Equal Justice Initiative. Texas had the fifth-highest number of lynching out of the 12 states highlighted in the report.

Hence, moi calls Bull Chit on the Sheriff's contention that No Racism exist in Waller county.
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[truedelphi]

1. And over on the Black Agenda Report, there are suggestions that she was

Targeted deliberately and that it was an assassination.

Our police departments now are deeply connected to Homeland Security. It doesn't take a degree in rocket science to find it deeply disturbing that a young and articulate AA college student was pulled over for basically nor reason at all, and then hauled off to jail, where she languished for some three days.

In many states, you don't get ticketed for changing lanes without using your signal if it is an open road and no possible danger could occur by the lane change.

If her family cannot make a murder charge go down, they should go after the PD for kidnapping.
Jail time for not using a signal is a trumped up charge.

[laserhaas]

2. NO Racism in Waller County --- PUHHLLEEAASSEE

My arse.....

Former Waller County Judge, DeWayne Charleston, is likely far more closer to hitting the nail on its head.

[whathehell]

13. As soon as someone says that, you know they are lying..

because no one can guarantee there is "no racism", anywhere, really.

[A Simple Game]

16. Now did you read the entire OP? It appears that the Sheriff is somewhat of an expert

where racism is concerned. So the Sheriff should know racism when he sees it. It also seems the Sheriff is a vampire and can't see his reflection when he looks into a mirror.

[Fuddnik]

3. Saw Charleston on Democracy Now yesterday.

Some very disturbing things about that county.

[laserhaas]

6. Cool - can you find us a link - I'll post it in my allowed space (in the thread)

Thanks for the heads up

[matt819]

12. One of my kids used to live there

And his black co-workers didn't go out with him and others for drinks because for them it was unsafe - concerned about the police, not fellow Charlestonians. Is that fucked up, or what?

[hobbit709]

4. And if you believe that you'll believe that Darth Cheney is the Messiah.

[laserhaas]

7. LOL - knew the "if you believe" quacks were coming

Too dang tired to think one up of my own

[MADem]

5. He probably thinks his farts smell like Chanel Number 5, too. nt

[laserhaas]

8. YUP-- HuffPo quotes his remarks - talking about himself in the 3rd person way

As narcissist often do.

[matt819]

9. To be fair

Those lynchings were so 1920s.

This guy really should STFU and hire a PR firm.

[laserhaas]

10. I understand, the lynchings are of times (purportedly) gone by

The question is (given the former judge, mayor and Current history of voter suppression) is the history one most whites in Waller county are ashamed of? Or do Waller's go to their homes, bars and frats and boast of such as hallowed antiquity?

Just sayin..............

[BillZBubb]

11. To a racist, racism doesn't exist.

They just don't see it. They think the way they feel is normal.

We've got a major political party that is racist, but even with their overtly racist legislation and positions, they deny it. We've got Supreme Court now with justices from the racist party that deny racism is a problem.

The sheriff is just one of the club.

[Baitball Blogger]

14. Tremendous ignorance.

[GreatGazoo]

15. "15 lynchings..." add at least one lynching in 2015

[d_legendary1]

17. Riiiiight....

Just like there are no pedophiles in the church, no crooked politicians, and no corruption in the court system.

[gregcrawford]

18. So Smith...

... you kiss your children with that lying mouth?

[Hissyspit]

19. Well, that's good to know.

[laserhaas]

20. Former Waller County Justice of Peace Charleston, lambaste those assassinating Sandra Bland