State of Michigan applies to you. If you are not white, it doesn’t.
Those who are more vocal have been discouraged, shunned and often retaliated against.
Emergency Manager, Roy Roberts set this precedent when he publicly stated to an audience that he did not
have to listen to the community. The idea was further strengthened when Roberts proceeded to destroy the
disabled student’s parent collaborative; creating the perception for many Detroiters that they were under
taxation without representation, discriminated against because they were minorities, and as parents of
disabled students: had a target on their back. The retaliation coming was not a secret. It began at a well
attended public meeting.
At the invitation-only, introductory meeting of Roy Roberts in 2011, which was hosted by a contractor of
the Emergency Manager, Detroit Parent Network (DPN), Roberts dropped the gauntlet.
Invited to this meeting were Disabled Student Advocates, an aide of Congressman Conyers’office, and other
community leaders. Coalition member, Sharlonda Buckman, of the Detroit Parent Network, acted as the
MC, fielding questions from the public. Judge Wendy Baxter had recently ruled that previous EFM, and
Coalition Member, Robert Bobb, (in authority under the old law previous to Snyder’s administration) had
caused irreparable harm to Detroit Public School students. A disabled student advocate was given the
microphone. She greeted the Governor’s newly appointed EM, Roy Roberts, and asked if there was any way
that students harmed by Robert Bobb would be compensated for the irreparable harm he caused to them
based on the Judge’s decision.
Roy Roberts exploded. He said, “How dare you talk to me like that?!!! I don’t have to listen
to you,” and began to roughly and publicly berate the Disabled Student Advocate for several
minutes for reasons no one listening could understand.
Several in attendance came to the advocatess assistance, as she stood visibly stunned and humiliated. Russ
Bellant, a white male, also in attendance, who now is employed as an aide to a State Representative Wendall
Byrd, was one of those who immediately came to the advocate’s aid and asked if she needed water or
anything for what had just happened.
Whatever Robert Bobb had done, at this introduction, various audience members have
expressed it was clear that there was a new Sherriff in town, and he was worse than anything
they had previously experienced from any Governor before.
Since Congressional aides were present, the Congressman was advised of the events. Thereafter, the
advocate was retaliated against. Specifically, Roy Roberts was perceived as taking an extreme disliking to
the disabled community. However, the disabled parent collaborative in Detroit was also very strong.
Because of the special needs of disabled students, many of the disabled student’s parents and guardians do
not have other jobs, their child’s needs is their job. Therefore, they spend their time volunteering at school
and community activities.
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