Dozens turned out at city council meeting to voice their thoughts on Kristin Zasada and racism in Greeley
By Kelly Ragan
Dozens of people shuffled into city hall Tuesday evening to demand the resignation of councilwoman Kristin Zasada while others defended her right to free speech. The council read emails as well as listened to residents, some wearing masks, some not, all of them sitting six feet apart, speak on Zasada’s remarks.
On May 31, Zasada posted on her personal Facebook account saying as a mother, she was worried about violent protests in Denver.
A back and forth ensued with one of Zasada’s friends from college. Her friend said police brutality was the leading cause of death for black men. Zasada found statistics on the Centers for Disease Control website to prove homicide is, in fact, the leading cause of death for young black men. Zasada then referenced black-on-black crime and questioned the validity of voter suppression.
More than 1,500 people signed a Change.org petition calling for her resignation as of Wednesday.
Gavin Hamilton, a black man, spoke Tuesday. He said he’s lived in Greeley for 33 years. His mom works for the hospital. His dad works for the city. His siblings have served in the Navy. Hamilton himself volunteers at organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club to give back to the community he loves.
“I’m going to raise my kids here someday,” Hamilton said. “I want my kids to have the same opportunities yours do.”
Hamilton’s voice broke as he spoke.
If society doesn’t begin to fix systemic issues, he said, anyone – including him, or the kids he plans to have – could be the next George Floyd or Breonna Taylor.
“I’m not here to call anyone a racist or a bigot because that’s not my place,” he said “But we do need to address the systematic oppression in place.”
Hamilton said he didn’t want to see the same old apologies Zasada was offering. He called for a sincere apology and real change.
Joshua Greer spoke as well. Greer, a University of Northern Colorado Student and Black Student Union President, worked to lead several Black Lives Matter protests in Greeley during the last couple weeks.
Joshua Greer helps to lead a Black Lives Matter protest in Greeley June 5, 2020. Photo by Joshua Polson.
Greer read off names of people he said were victims of police brutality in Greeley.
“Anyone who believes the police are supposed to protect and serve does not have a full understanding of American history,” Greer said. “…If you think your police department is any better than the Minneapolis Police Department, you’re wrong.”
City councilmember Ed Clark, a former Greeley police officer, asked if he could respond, as council members don’t usually respond during public comment.
“I wasn’t planning on saying anything,” Clark said. “But I’ve got to take exception to you saying those names are victims of police brutality.”
Clark said as a former police officer, he took offense to the statement.
Clark and Greer briefly argued over the origins of policing before Greer returned to his seat.
Oluwatobi Ogunmodede, a UNC graduate student and Black Student Union member, also spoke. Ogunmodede led recent Black Lives Matter protests as well.
Oluwatobi Ogunmodede speaks during the protest Friday, June 5, 2020 at Monfort Park off of 47th Avenue in Greeley. Photo by Joshua Polson.
She said Zasada’s statements were racist.
“I’m not sure you’re realizing your impact on the black community,” Ogunmodede said. “You have no idea how harmful or even deadly your statements can be to black people who are asking simply not to be killed.”
Ogunmodede said before Zasada can have the conversation she says she wants to have with people, she needs to apologize.
“You are a public official,” Ogunmodede said. “You need to be better. You should be better.”
Several folks also turned out to voice their support for Zasada.
Anthony Navarro, owner of Colorado Shooting Sports, said Zasada was merely stating the facts.
Navarro said he was ashamed of Greeley’s Latino community for how they have been acting. Just because people are angry, he said, doesn’t mean they can throw a temper tantrum and burn things down.
“When protesters become rioters, there is a problem. There is no need for (Zasada) to apologize. Everything she said was factual. As a resident of Greeley since 1990, I am proud of you,” he said, directing his comments toward Zasada. “I am glad to know you.”
Jerry Neff spoke up to support Zasada as well.
“We in this country are blessed with the right of free speech and peaceable assembly,” he said. “You can disagree with what Kristin Zasada said, but that doesn’t mean you can pressure her to resign.”
Several other folks speaking or emailing their comments railed against censorship. One email read at the meeting stated, “we have great concerns over any attempt to censor the free speech of any of our citizens, including Kristin Zasada.”
It is important to note that Zasada hasn’t been censored. Even if she did resign, that would not equate to censorship. The First Amendment protects people from being censored by the government. Constituents calling for consequences for things that have been said doesn’t fit the bill.
After about an hour of public comment, Zasada spoke.
“These are trying times for everyone. I hear your hurt, I hear your emotion, I hear your pain,” Zasada said. “I’m asking you that we sit down together and have these hard conversations.”
Zasada pledged to listen to and represent everyone in the community.
She did not apologize for the Facebook post.
As public comment wrapped up, city councilmember Tommy Butler, who called Zasada out for her statements early on, addressed the crowd.
“Alone as individuals, we can’t make change happen. It takes community,” Butler said. “…the worldwide protests calling for justice (for George Floyd) are extremely justified.”
City councilmembers can’t remove other members, Butler said.
Neither can mayors.
“Voters have that power,” Butler said.
Butler again called for all city councilmembers to take sensitivity training to learn how to better represent people of color in the community.
All council members – including Zasada – agreed to it.