It’s a sad day when our top Democratic officials in Essex County are willing to harbor a proven racist.
It seems they will continue to allow Marie Burke to represent the people of Belleville, a town with a 41% minority population, on the Democratic Committee.
I’m sorry gentlemen, but exactly which part of the phrase, “removed from office” was unclear to you?
Tomorrow night at 7 PM at the American Legion Post in Belleville (118 Belmont Ave), they will “demote” Burke to Deputy Chair of the committee. This is nothing more than a laughable slap on the wrist, at best. At worst, it is a sign that there might be something amiss with the relationship between Burke and her political superiors in the Democratic Party.
If the Dems are taking any action here, then this is indisputable confirmation that they are fully aware of what she stands accused of, and her reprehensible behavior that has continued since then with her defiant, unapologetic stance regarding her racist remarks.
Their refusal to force her removal also flies in the face of the NAACP’s recent demands:
The NAACP Has Arrived, and Demands Marie Burke’s Resignation
I sincerely doubt it’s a good idea to flagrantly thumb your nose at the NAACP when they mobilize against you regarding substantiated allegations of racism.
Why on earth would the County Dems refuse to remove Marie Burke, as the people of Belleville are demanding? As the NAACP is now also demanding?
Does Burke have something on them? Does she know something that she could threaten to expose, if they booted her? Did money change hands, and that’s the ammunition in play here? There’s no logical explanation for any of this, therefore our question becomes, “Who has what on who?”.
Or wait…is it, “Who has what on whom”? Alright, all you English teachers are going to have to give me a pass on that one.
Anyway, one can only wonder, but like many things around Belleville, this whole thing stinks to high heaven.
Perhaps it’s time to start asking Senator Richard Codey, Assemblyman Ralph Caputo, Chairman LeRoy Jones, and Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo a few questions. We had been laying off of them because when it came time to act, we had expected them to do the right thing. First their complete silence, now this?
The gloves are off now, fellas. Should Burke continue to hold a seat – any seat – on the Democratic Committee, the voters will hold you each personally accountable.
We will turn up the heat on everyone involved until Burke is either removed entirely, or we expose the truth of what (and who) is really at work here.
Batten down the hatches, ladies and gentlemen – I think it’s time for us to hit the national news again.
~ Griff
Update: We’re hearing that a protest is being organized at the American Legion Post on Belmont Ave, tomorrow at 7 PM.
I have also contacted the NAACP about this, and we will continue to reach out to raise awareness of the situation elsewhere. There’s not much time, so everyone please pitch in, and contact the local news media to express your outrage.
Please spread the word, and tell the Essex County Democrats what you really think of their clear intentions to continue harboring Marie Burke.
Updated Update: It’s confirmed. Rather than removing her from office, last night the Essex Democratic Committee nominated Burke as Vice Chair.
This also means that should the new Chair conveniently decide to step aside one day soon, she’ll be right back in that position.
Yep, that was the extent of her punishment by the Essex County Democratic Committee.
Time to send a clear message that we will not let this insult stand.
To the Essex Dems: “If Burke stays, you can kiss our votes goodbye.”
Issue Campaign #8 has now begun.
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