Letter to the Editor - Re: Racism Displayed at Council Meetings)

Bogalusa resident Lorraine Bourn expressed her thoughts about displays of racism at Bogalusa Council meetings in a Letter to the Editor dated April 22, 2017.

"For a year or so I faithfully attended City Council meetings in the hope that participating would help our city move in a positive direction. I stopped attending due to the racial strife presented at just about every meeting. The racism I witnessed was not from the Mayor or City Council members. It was from the few speakers that repeatedly accused the City of making decisions based on color. They could not accepted that the City did not have the money to blacktop a street in front of a black church which badly needed repair. It was not accepted that other streets that received a great deal of traffic were given priority. I am grateful that I have had the opportunity to work with many black men and women of our parish on various civic endeavors and have never experienced the racial venom displayed at City Council meetings. It amazes me that a speaker who accuses the City of racism states a black should hold the position of Public Works Director. Why not a person of whatever color who can do a good job? I do not believe they speak for the majority of our black community. Peace, my brothers and sisters, peace. Let’s work together in peace!"