The Manhattan Alliance for Peace and Justice held a conference continuing to demand the resignation of Commissioner Marvin Rodriguez and live streamed commission meetings.
The People’s Press Conference was held via Zoom with multiple speakers within the community. This is due to comments Rodriguez made during a special meeting on March 18.
A new resident of Manhattan, Kimberly Zito says comments like the ones made by Rodriguez can lead to fear and blame during a time of crisis.
“So when a government official makes such an ignorant and misinformed comment, then follows up with an explanation that doubles down on ignorance, it turns a dumb, backwoods, hillbilly comment into something dangerous because it’s coming from a government official,” says Zito.
Zito began her comments with her own experiences with racist comments made against her in her lifetime. She continues saying that Rodriguez’s comments were not only irresponsible, but also reckless.
“How the chairman continued to explain himself by spreading even more fiction, it demonstrates everything we need to know about how Marvin Rodriguez operates in his role in this government,” says Zito.
Zito called for Commissioners Ron Wells and John Ford to join the MAPJ in asking for Rodriguez’s resignation.
Another of the speakers was Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 Special Education Teacher Shana Bender. She criticized the commission’s lack of online meeting streaming saying the school district was able to set up access for their students in a week.
“What is the purpose of your meetings if your constituents aren’t able to access what you do? In the same way what is the purpose of teachers writing lessons without the presenting to their constituents; their students?” asked Bender.
Bender is asking for not only online access for meetings, but for ways the public can participate online specifically for COVID-19 information.
MAPJ Community Organizing and Education Chair Jess Kerr says allowing online streamed meetings is a part of transparency.
“Failure to do so shows a lack of dedication to these principles and belays more questions about county malfeasance. Elected officials serve the public, today we exercise the right to see how we are represented in county government,” says Kerr.
Kaylee Proctor, a former paramedic for Riley County EMS, says she has witnessed several racist incidents and brought these issues to various department heads.
“Throughout 2018, I repeatedly witnessed discrimination within county employees and leadership, and made me feel uncomfortable and unsafe in my work environment,” says Proctor. “I did what we were instructed to do; I told people these comments weren’t appropriate, but repeatedly found myself needing to defend my position.”
Proctor says she was treated as the problem and ultimately left her position after things became too stressful. In 2017 and 2019, Proctor suggested anti-racism and bias training for the county, but was informed the county has diversity training available for employees.
“This is what bothers me most; this entire situation could have been prevented if my warning was heeded and the commission meetings were more accessible to the public,” Proctor says.
Several other community members spoke during the conference as well, all calling for Rodriguez’s resignation and better access to county meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The petition calling for resignation was at 624 signatures as of Monday morning. MAPJ Chair Jonalu Johnstone says they hope the petition will garner more support to put pressure on Rodriguez to resign.
When asked if they would have someone run against Rodriguez in the upcoming election, Kerr says there are are efforts to find candidates.
