U.S : She called Black Athletes "degenerates" on Facebook.

Michigan State Police director Kriste Kibbey 

Etue called Black athletes "degenerates." 

An apology is not enough. 

Gov. Rick Snyder must fire her now !

TAKE ACTION!

Dear friend,

“Anti-American, degenerates.” That is what Michigan State Police director Kriste Kibbey Etue said in a Facebook post meme about Black athletes in the National Football League who have been bravely kneeling in protests against police brutality.¹ As soon as news broke about the post, people including the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus started calling for her resignation. She immediately apologized and said posting the comment was a "mistake." Even some Black troopers in her department were appalled by the Facebook post. Governor Rick Snyder appointed Kriste Kibbey Etue in January 2011. Etue’s entire tenure as director for Michigan State Police is deeply entrenched in scandal and turmoil, she is not fit to serve.

Her apology is not enough. She’s already revealed the truth about where she stands--and we need to believe her.

Right this moment we are already living through a terrorizing White House that is building an agenda that attacks communities of color every day. We do not need any more people in public leadership positions mouthing off Trump’s white supremacist rhetoric.Communities need to feel safe and respected by public leaders who are trustworthy. Kriste Kibbey Etue has got to go.

Etue’s leadership is dangerous and reckless. It is time for Governor Rick Snyder to fire Etue.

Under Etue’s leadership, the Michigan State police department has a long and volatile history of misconduct and discrimination. Just this August, 15-year-old Black teenager Damon Grimes was tasered and killed by state trooper Mark Bessner. In a violation of policy, the officer fired the taser through a police vehicle window at him while pursuing the teen who then crashed his ATV.² This same officer has a history of using excessive force, yet he remained on the job -- even with several lawsuits filed against him. Not once did director Etue hold him accountable, instead Eute awarded the officer Bessner the “Lifesaving Award” in 2016.³ An entire family and community have been in mourning and Etue continues to turn a blind eye and refused to serve justice. This is why her post against police brutality protests is not just a “mistake”--it’s an indictment on her actual practice. And she needs to be held accountable for that.

Etue’s leadership of the department has created a hectic and hostile work environment for Black and Brown employees. Leonard Mungo, a Detroit attorney who has represented about a dozen black and white troopers in civil disputes with the department, said the posting demonstrates "kind of a dangerous mindset for someone in her powerful position."⁴ Increasingly the department has received scrutiny and criticism for the lack of Black employees represented. With Etue’s Facebook post, and failed leadership as Michigan State Police Director, she makes it clear that she does not value Black people -- not our leadership, not our lives.

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder must show that police violence is wrong, and any leader in public office must be held accountable for perpetuating violence and racism. Sign the petition.

Former NFL athlete Colin Kaepernick made a bold move by kneeling during the national anthem to protest the ongoing police violence against Black and Brown people. As he powerfully said: “I cannot stand for a flag of a country that continues to oppress Black people and people of color.” This was inspiring, this is leadership. This is change. We are now in the midst of a historic moment where NFL players, celebrities, and decisionmakers with the platform powerful enough to shift the entire country are all speaking out against police brutality. And Etue’s absolutely on the wrong side of history.

Tell Governor Rick Snyder to fire Kriste Kibbey Etue now.

Michigan State police director Etue’s words are not just a meme on Facebook. It incites hate, violence, and attacks our communities. She represents the type of leadership that we cannot let continue to exist in this country. If Governor Rick Snyder truly believes in Michigan, he will put the people are first. He must do the right thing and use his platform to fire Etue immediately.

Sign the petition.

Until justice is real,

Rashad, Arisha, Scott, Anay, Clarise, Enchanta, Malaya, Kristen, Katrese, and the rest of the Color Of Change team

References :

1. "State police director's FB post : NFL players who take knee during anthem are 'degenerates'," Detroit Free Press, 09-26-2017
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/9142?t=10&akid=7966%2E1942551%2EHQSZr0police/705511001/">http://act.colorofchange.org/go/9143?t=11&akid=7966%2E1942551%2EHQSZr0

2. "State police director's FB post : NFL players who take knee during anthem are 'degenerates'," Detroit Free Press, 09-26-2017
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/9142?t=13&akid=7966%2E1942551%2EHQSZr0police/705511001/">http://act.colorofchange.org/go/9143?t=14&akid=7966%2E1942551%2EHQSZr0

3. "Trooper in ATV death twice accused of excessive force," The Detroit News, 08-30-2017
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/9144?t=16&akid=7966%2E1942551%2EHQSZr0lawsuit/105112680/">http://act.colorofchange.org/go/9145?t=17&akid=7966%2E1942551%2EHQSZr0

4. "State police director's FB post : NFL players who take knee during anthem are 'degenerates'," Detroit Free Press, 09-26-2017
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/9142?t=19&akid=7966%2E1942551%2EHQSZr0police/705511001/">http://act.colorofchange.org/go/9143?t=20&akid=7966%2E1942551%2EHQSZr0

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