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Dear residents of South Bend, today, on the leap of February 29, 2024, we cross the threshold of Black History Month. You might wonder why I, Redress South Bend, choose today of all days to reflect on this moment. Yet, isn’t it evident? Black history is not just a segment of our nation’s narrative; it is woven through the very fabric of American history, Indiana's history, and South Bend's history itself. Originating in 1926 as a week-long celebration, it was only by its 50th anniversary in 1976 that Black History Month expanded to encompass the full breadth of February.
Now that I’ve captured your interest, and perhaps shed light on new knowledge, allow me to pose a question. When we engage in the observance of Black History Month, what are we truly celebrating, and why does it matter? We pay homage to the unparalleled achievements of African Americans and acknowledge the profound impact their contributions continue to exert on our society, both in historical and contemporary contexts. But then, what frames our understanding of history? Do your thoughts drift to landmark events like the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863, Plessy V. Ferguson in 1896, or Jackie Robinson eradicating the racial barrier in Major League Baseball in 1947? Imagine if I told you that history isn’t a relic of the past but rather unfolds before our very eyes, even as recent as a few months back, creating new layers of South Bend’s history. It’s time we discuss this further.
In recent South Bend history, regarding incidents on January 3rd and February 22nd, 2024, we observed the stark contrast in responses to racially targeted harassment faced by Councilman Henry Davis Jr., an African American public official, compared to the treatment of Councilman Troy Warner, a white public official. These dates in history shed light on deep-seated systemic racial disparities still alive within our community in 2024. Councilman Henry Davis Jr., after being subjected to over 4 years worth of racially charged and insensitive voicemails (literally hours and hours of harassing and racist audio), took the responsible steps anyone in his position would—reporting this harassment to South Bend Mayor James Mueller, his peers on the Common Council (City Council), the Chief of Police Scott Ruszkowski, and even reaching out to the media for support. The dismissive response he received, with claims it was merely "part of the job" and suggestions to resign if he couldn't withstand such attacks, speaks volumes about the challenges faced by African American individuals when seeking justice and support in positions of power. What was most confusing, was Councilman Henry Davis Jr. did not receive support from many of his fellow African American elected officials, fellow African American city employees, or members of the community. They all piled on and victim blamed Councilman Henry Davis Jr.. If you ever wondered where someone would stand on the right side of history during pivotal moments like Rosa Parks' defiance on December 1, 1955, or the stark disparity in access to basic amenities between Whites and African Americans in Birmingham, Alabama (In MLK's book Stride Toward Freedom, he reported that 94% of white households had flush toilets, while only 31% of African American household had that amenity), it's insightful to observe their responses to current events.
I will post some of the responses below, and on your own, you can allude to where they would have stood in past history:
In stark contrast, Councilman Troy Warner's experience following his claim of receiving threatening notes, despite the absence of concrete evidence like that provided by Councilman Henry Davis Jr., was met with immediate support and a promise of action from the same officials and institutions that had disregarded Councilman Henry Davis Jr.'s concerns. This differential treatment not only highlights a troubling racial bias, but also underscores the importance of addressing these systemic failings to foster an environment where all members of our community, regardless of race, can feel safe and supported.
The subsequent involvement of the FBI in Councilman Henry Davis Jr.'s case, prompted by his own efforts and not by local authorities, further emphasizes the need for systemic change. The dismissive attitude towards Councilman Henry Davis Jr.'s harassment as "political theatre" by figures of authority, such as South Bend Mayor James Mueller, contrasted with the proactive stance taken in Councilman Troy Warner's case, raises critical questions about the role of race in the perception and response to threats against public officials. This disparity not only undermines trust in our institutions, but also signals an urgent need for a reflective and informed approach to addressing and rectifying these deep-rooted inequities. To make matters worse, legacy media even attempted to question the legitimacy of the FBI probe, implying it was made up. I can personally confirm that the FBI Field Office in Indianapolis contacted Redress South Bend to discuss the matter and there was, in fact, an FBI probe. Would legacy media have cast doubts on Councilman Troy Warner's claims of an FBI probe?
I want to look at the specific responses each Council person received. First, let’s look at Councilman Henry Davis Jr. When Councilman Henry Davis Jr. asked for help, he received the following:
“If you decide that serving is too much, I think we'd all understand.” - South Bend Mayor James Mueller
"Unfortunatley, we all receive them in some form or another. I wish you had expressed this type of outrage and concern when your colleagues experienced disturbing, hateful attacks (and vandalism) due to your political theatrics." - South Bend Mayor James Mueller
In short, South Bend Mayor James Mueller suggested Councilman Henry Davis Jr. resign from office and then blamed him for others being attacked.
In other responses from other Councilmembers,
Councilmember Canneth Lee said: “He’s been calling every week since I got in Office...When I hear it’s him I don’t even listen. We have a choice not to listen.”
I spoke personally with fellow minority and female South Bend Councilwoman Rachel Tomas Morgan who claims she also gets threatening voicemails all the time. Redress sent in an Access to Public Records Request requesting voicemails from Councilman Canneth Lee and Councilwoman Rachel Tomas Morgan for dates 01/01/2023-12/31/2023. City legal replied
“the City does not have any records responsive to (my records requests.)"
They were unable to provide me with a single voicemail. If Councilman Canneth Lee or Councilwoman Rachel Tomas Morgan read this and say “They left voicemails on my personal phone not my government line.” I would be open to listening and posting those voicemails and updating the record. As history, all history, should reflect the truth. And I have taken it upon myself to uphold, record, and report the truth. You both know how to reach me, as well as Councilman Troy Warner. I can add any harassment you've received to this document and the history of South Bend.
In the ongoing exploration of the history of South Bend, we turn our attention to the way in which the South Bend Police Department has reacted to grievances about harassment voiced by Councilman Troy Warner. On the date of Wednesday, February 21, 2024, Councilman Troy Warner communicated his concerns through an email directed to South Bend Mayor James Mueller, staff, and fellow council members. Read below: (Names & Addresses of the Accused Redacted)
Councilman Troy Warner receives this prompt response from City Legal: (Names & Addresses of the Accused Redacted)
Police Chief Scott Ruszkowski's Response:
Councilman Dr. Oliver Davis:
Councilman Troy Warner's Response: (Names & Addresses of the Accused Redacted)
Police Chief Scott Ruszkowski's Response:
Officer Javier Bourn's Response: (Names & Addresses of the Accused Redacted)
Officer Javier Bourn's Followup: (Names & Addresses of the Accused Redacted)
Between February 21, 2024, and February 26, 2024, this event in South Bend serves as a stark reminder of the importance of equitable justice and unbiased treatment in our society. Despite Councilman Troy Warner's decision to emulate Councilman Henry Davis Jr. by not filing a police report, it is crucial to acknowledge that Councilman Henry Davis Jr. was, in fact, seeking parity in the investigation processes—a right he rightfully deserved. This incident underscores a significant discrepancy in how complaints are treated, contingent upon the complainant's identity, a disparity that should not exist. Particularly striking is Police Chief Scott Ruszkowski's assertion that "Mr. Warner (Councilman Troy Warner) in fact knows exactly what the criteria is for reporting...", which insinuates a misunderstanding on Councilman Henry Davis Jr.'s part, a notion that is fundamentally flawed.
Councilman Henry Davis Jr., an alum of Earlham College with a Bachelor in Arts and a Master's in Business Administration from Bethel University in 2020, is beyond qualified, disproving any implications of ignorance or incompetence. This narrative pushed by the city government is not only misleading but also harmful. It is a clarion call to all of us to reflect on the role we wish to play in the course of history. Would we have stood alongside MLK? Would we have supported Rosa Parks? These questions aren't mere hypotheticals; they challenge us to confront and rectify injustices in our time. Let us strive to be on the right side of history, where equitable treatment and justice prevail. The events in South Bend serve as a strong reminder that we must always stand up for what is right, regardless of race or position. As we close out on Black History Month, let us reflect on this. We must continue to push for equality and fairness, not just in our communities but around the world. Let us make our future better than the past. As we discussed, today is history.
