Political leadership’s role
Allison Mahaley
Dear Commissioners,
The point of this email is to broach two issues that are on my mind. Believe me, I would prefer to be with you in person this evening, but because of personal business, I am unable to attend.
I am wondering if you all are aware that on February 28, the Sons of Confederate Veterans met in RTP? The implications of their “symposium“ are deep and wide, more than I can explain in this email. But know this-The symposium featured scholars who are propagating a false and racist narrative that has been and continues to be the rallying cry of the current federal administration. At first glance this event may seem trivial, but at the present moment, this group‘s agenda is being executed nationwide. As elected officials, my hope is that you are aware. And that your awareness will lead you to productive and effective action regarding the social and political implications of this group and the power they wield.
It is my assumption that the majority of you ran for your positions on the commission as Democrats. I am newly activated within the local party, though I have always been a registered Democrat. Also on February 28 was the Orange County Democratic Party “all precincts meeting.” As a newcomer to the party, I was deeply disappointed in the experience at that meeting. As our elected officials who run on our ticket and rely on our volunteers on election day, I expected to see more of you than I did. Special thanks to Amy Fowler and Phyllis Portie-Ascott who stopped by my precinct meeting that day.
Given these two coinciding events on the Saturday before the primary, I am convinced that the timing was no accident. The timing of the OCDP mtg made perfect sense to me given that it was the Saturday before the election and there was no early voting that day. What didn’t make sense to me was how lightly attended it was. The timing of the symposium was meant to excite and galvanize the base that holds overwhelming political power in NC and to perhaps distract the “radical left.”
I hope this email is a starting point for conversations regarding race, politics, and our local response to federal madness. As your constituent, I would take great comfort in hearing a strong public statement from you denouncing the group, drawing attention to the threat they pose, and in urging people to join and participate and the political party that opposes the Republican agenda.
Many thanks, and I hope to hear back from you.
Allison Mahaley,
Hillsborough Precinct Chair