To the editor:
It's time to get down to brass tacks, to speak out when you see something happening that you know not only in your gut, but your heart, is not right. It will be difficult to stand up against people you thought shared your values and ideals, especially when you learn not only do they not share those things but tell you to go elsewhere because they don't care in the least little bit.
In April, I attended the meeting of the Jefferson County Democratic Party. As a lifelong Democratic voter, I had heard about the issues that the executive committee chairwoman had been dealing with since before she even had the chance to chair her first meeting. The things I heard were, sadly, all true. For some unknown reason, a small group of party "leadership" has opposed her, anyone who shows support for her and anyone who cares about LGBTQIA+ issues, women's rights and reproductive health care or civil rights and human rights. Why is anyone's guess because this group of people is not saying -- it's just telling people that if they care about these issues to go elsewhere.
At the April meeting, the central committee chairman and his vice chair began the process of changing county bylaws to remove any control of the executive chairwoman and the executive committee. When asked repeatedly why these changes were being pushed so hard or who actually wrote these new bylaws, they refused to give clear answers or refused to answer at all.
I still don't understand why this group of individuals has an issue with the chairwoman -- I don't think they know themselves. Sometimes, when people have sat in seats of power for so long they begin to think they are entitled to stay there until they turn to dust. The disrespect shown to the chairwoman was just sad: Yelling at her every time she tried to speak during the meeting she was chairing, mocking and bullying her and others who asked questions or tried to support her. These bullies were gleeful in their attacks and found it very amusing.
Sitting there I decided a few things: First was that I will never support the county party as long as these "leaders" are part of it, I don't respect bullies and thugs. Second was that I will only be donating directly to LGBTQIA+ candidates, especially trans candidates. Third was that it was time to dust off my activist shoes and get to work!
If you want to help our society progress and move forward, I will be sending out a "beacon" very soon. Oh, and before I left that meeting, I showed the bullies exactly the amount of respect they have shown others. Watch for the blue flare, and don't give up hope.
Barbara Davis
Wintersville