The Olympia City Council issued a proclamation on Tuesday recognizing February as Black History Month and invited speakers to remark on the importance of the heritage month in Olympia.
The celebration soured, however, when one of the invited speakers called an unspecified city council member a racist and continued to shout over Mayor Dontae Payne after he was cut off.
The conflict took up the first 30 minutes of the Olympia City Council’s Feb. 3 meeting.
“I am trying really hard to stay calm, but I am furious about what happened here,” Payne said after the situation calmed. “I think it’s really sad to see what was supposed to be a celebratory moment, which was to recognize Black History Month with a proclamation and share that with our community members who are hosting an event in partnership with the city to celebrate the month, unfortunately has gone awry.”
The Olympia City Council’s recognition of Black History Month began much like other proclamations the city council has issued, with a reading of the proclamation and an opportunity for a couple of invited community members to give remarks.
For this year’s Black History Month proclamation recognizing the 100th anniversary of the month, the Olympia City Council invited representatives from the Olympia School District and the Hawk Foundation for Research and Education in African Culture to speak.
Both organizations are partnering with the City of Olympia to host a Black History Month educational community event on Feb. 20.
During his allotted comment period, Hawk Foundation Executive Director Javoen Byrd spoke about the racism Black Americans have faced throughout the country’s history, noting that the weaponization of federal agents against regular citizens is not “unprecedented,” as Black people have endured similar treatment for centuries.
He then turned his comments onto the Olympia City Council, saying, “You thought by inviting me here today, you’d teach a big (n-—) a lesson? You thought I’d come back humbled, corrected? Do you think my ancestors care about the discomfort of a racist council member?”
Byrd’s microphone was then cut off. He continued his prepared remarks, despite Payne interrupting him with the gavel and repeatedly saying his name.
“No, Mr. Byrd. Thank you, but I’m going to have to stop you there. I’m going to have to stop you there. Thank you very much,” Payne said.
Payne then attempted to continue with the Olympia City Council meeting, but Byrd continued shouting over him.
Payne then called for a recess.
After about 17 minutes, the city council reconvened. Byrd was still present, but was quiet.
“Before we carry on with the rest of our agenda, I need to address what just happened in the chambers,” Payne said. “Mr. Byrd, I’m going to be honest with you and tell you that I have never been (more) disrespected by anyone in this city than in that particular moment right here in the dais in this room by another Black man on Black History Month. Never.”
Byrd shouted back a response, but was cut off.
“No, no no. This is not a back and forth. I am not going to tolerate disrespect in the chambers,” Payne said, attempting to talk over continued shouting by Byrd.
“Anyway. I want everyone in the community to know that this is not representative of what Black History Month is about,” Payne said over Byrd.
While not microphoned, Byrd can be heard on recorded audio from the meeting making a variety of statements addressed to Payne, including:
“I go home to my Black wife and my Black children, what do you go home to?”
“There’s a reason they feel comfortable with you so don’t you dare try to call me out. I didn’t call nobody out.”
“Good job, Dontae,” and “Congratulations. We need to give you a plaque for white supremacy.”
Payne responded, while Byrd continued to shout over him, with, “You can say whatever you want. You can say whatever you want, Mr. Byrd. I am not going to allow you to disrespect me or any member of this council.”
When Byrd replied, “I didn’t disrespect anybody,” Payne said, “Calling a council member a racist in public is disrespectful. You are out of line. You are out of line.”
Byrd responded by pointing out he didn’t call out a council member by name.
He then went quiet.
After a brief discussion on whether to go into a planned executive session early or continue with the meeting, the council chose to proceed with public comment.
Before continuing with the rest of the agenda, Payne apologized to his fellow council members and other meeting attendees for “the lack of decorum that is in the chambers tonight.”
He remarked that Byrd’s decision to disrupt the celebration of Black History Month by “hijacking the moment and disrespecting a member of the council is inappropriate and it will not be tolerated.”
He added, “You expect members of this council to respect you when we approach you. You will do the same when you come into the chamber. That is just simple human decency. And if you won’t do that, then we certainly won’t sit here and continue to be disrespected.”
City Council Member Kelly Green extended her own apology to Payne, noting that Payne is Olympia’s first Black mayor.
“I’m sorry that you had to go through that, and please just know that you have my support and I appreciate that this came forward as a proclamation, and I look forward to the rest of the month being slightly less stressful and hopefully more educational,” Green said.
Payne remarked on the importance of celebrating Black History Month now, as “people are actively trying to erase the contributions of African Americans in this country.”
He encouraged Olympia residents to “continue to just educate yourselves and inform others about the significance of this month not just in February but all year round.”
Earlier in the meeting, Olympia School District Student Mentor Coordinator Antonio McClinton Sr. remarked on how his program is an example of embodying the lessons of Black History Month locally year-round.
“In a time when conversations around diversity, equity and inclusion feel uncertain or contested, mentorship offers us something grounded and actionable,” McClinton said.
The Black History Month event organized by the Hawk Foundation, in partnership with the Olympia School District and the City of Olympia, is still scheduled to go forward.
It takes place from Feb. 20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Washington Center for Performing Arts.
This year's free, family-friendly event features keynote speaker Dr. Joy DeGruy and will focus on dismantling systemic racism in education, according to the event website.
