Featured photo: Pastor Alfred Harris speaks at a press conference was held Thursday, September 21, at Haskell Community Center to address alleged racism
Written by Tanya Terry
A press conference was held Thursday, September 21, at Haskell Community Center. There, community leaders publicly rebuked 8th Ward Councilman Pfeiffer over remarks they said were “thoughtless and vicious.”
On Monday, September 18, during a Flint City Council meeting, Pfeiffer made comments after 2nd Ward Councilwoman Ladel Lewis spoke.
Pfeiffer said: “Unless we address the monkey in the room and the negative things that you bring to chairing, and unless we address that, we are not going to move forward.”
“Flint is a majority African American city,” pointed out Bishop Chris Martin. “There’s no way our council individuals who are elected to represent wards should be referred to as monkeys. Councilperson Lewis has been referred to as a “handkerchief head…But more importantly, there should not be juvenile name-calling on the city council. Period. Flint is battling gun violence and crime in our city.”
Councilman Eric Mays has referred to Lewis and 3rd Ward Councilman Quincy Murphy as “handkerchief-head Negros.”
“…We’re asking all the council persons to put your personal beliefs behind and move forward for the greater good,” said Pastor Alfred Harris.
Harris also called for name-calling to end, saying the council were examples for the entire city.
“I don’t mind you disagreeing,” he added. “I don’t mind you being angry. But we’ve got to carry out the city’s business without venom.”
“When I first heard the term monkey out of my colleague’s mouth, I was in utter disbelief because this is 2023,” stated Lewis.
She added the council members go to work in a hostile work environment and said that T-shirts were being sold to community members with her face on it and the term “handkerchief head negro.”
“Now, on the other end I’m being attacked by a white colleague calling me a monkey, referring to me as a monkey?” asked Lewis. “That’s creating a hostile work environment…I’m here to do the business of the city. I’m here for the residents. So, if I’m constantly under attack, that affects your mental health and you’re not able to perform your job the way you were elected to do…I’m here exclusively to perform the will of the people.”
Many people on social media, including those who viewed video footage on Bishop Chris Martin’s Facebook page, said there was no room for racism. Others said Pfieffer owed no apology for using the word “monkey” in the context it was used.
Lewis was officially removed from chairing the September 21 meeting by the majority of the councilmembers. Council members described the September 21 meeting and several meetings Lewis chaired before it as chaotic.
The Courier reached out to Pfeiffer on September 21 to ask him what he meant by the comment and whether he would be offering an apology. As of September 27, we had not heard back from him.
Martin said the The American Civil Liberties Union was contacted to investigate the matter.
