West Des Moines police are investigating racial slurs targeting black Iowa lawmakers.On Friday, the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, and Progress Iowa hosted a “People’s Condition of the State” event ahead of the 2022 Iowa legislative session. The meeting was hijacked via Zoom. During these moments, organizers say the hijackers said racist slurs and projected racist slurs and images onto the screen. “Once one threat came up, I tried to make sure I shut it down, then another threat would come up,” said Al Womble, the chairman of the Iowa Democratic Black Caucus. Noted speakers that night included Iowa Democrat Representatives Ras Smith, Phyllis Thede, and Ross Willburn. Womble says that he eventually kicked the offenders out, but not before the people screamed out more slurs. Womble explained that this is something he feels is becoming too common.He noted multiple instances in the past two years where similar incidents occurred. In 2021, a town hall held by Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad and Rep. Marty Anderson was interrupted. In 2020, during a meeting involving the Des Moines Civil Rights Commission, racially charged images and words appeared on the screen.Womble believes the best way to put a stop to these racial incidents is for everyone to speak up and condemn them. “Because when individuals don’t speak out against this, people are going to find aid and comfort in the fact that people did not respond,” said Womble. According to Womble, the racial slurs began half way through the event. They started when State Democratic Representative Phyllis Thede was speaking. When speaking with KCCI, Womble praised Rep. Thede for continuously moving forward with her speech. “It’s important that we all stand up against anything,” said Rep. Thede. “Because if we don’t, what’s going to happen is that people think they’ll get away with it.” The Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Ross Wilburn was on the Zoom as well during the attacks.Wilburn released a statement today saying, “Unfortunately, these despicable experiences of harassment are far too common for Black Iowans. That’s why it’s crucial all Iowans speak up and hold those accountable for bigoted actions and statements.”In a statement sent to KCCI, the Iowa Republican Party of Iowa said it “condemns any actions taken by individuals to harass and intimidate people based on the color of their skin. Criminals should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
West Des Moines police are investigating racial slurs targeting black Iowa lawmakers.
On Friday, the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, and Progress Iowa hosted a “People’s Condition of the State” event ahead of the 2022 Iowa legislative session. The meeting was hijacked via Zoom. During these moments, organizers say the hijackers said racist slurs and projected racist slurs and images onto the screen.
“Once one threat came up, I tried to make sure I shut it down, then another threat would come up,” said Al Womble, the chairman of the Iowa Democratic Black Caucus.
Noted speakers that night included Iowa Democrat Representatives Ras Smith, Phyllis Thede, and Ross Willburn. Womble says that he eventually kicked the offenders out, but not before the people screamed out more slurs.
Womble explained that this is something he feels is becoming too common.
He noted multiple instances in the past two years where similar incidents occurred. In 2021, a town hall held by Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad and Rep. Marty Anderson was interrupted. In 2020, during a meeting involving the Des Moines Civil Rights Commission, racially charged images and words appeared on the screen.
Womble believes the best way to put a stop to these racial incidents is for everyone to speak up and condemn them.
“Because when individuals don’t speak out against this, people are going to find aid and comfort in the fact that people did not respond,” said Womble.
According to Womble, the racial slurs began half way through the event. They started when State Democratic Representative Phyllis Thede was speaking. When speaking with KCCI, Womble praised Rep. Thede for continuously moving forward with her speech.
“It’s important that we all stand up against anything,” said Rep. Thede. “Because if we don’t, what’s going to happen is that people think they’ll get away with it.”
The Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Ross Wilburn was on the Zoom as well during the attacks.
Wilburn released a statement today saying, “Unfortunately, these despicable experiences of harassment are far too common for Black Iowans. That’s why it’s crucial all Iowans speak up and hold those accountable for bigoted actions and statements.”
In a statement sent to KCCI, the Iowa Republican Party of Iowa said it “condemns any actions taken by individuals to harass and intimidate people based on the color of their skin. Criminals should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”