BLM LV Demands McClure to Veto "Offensive" Referendum Banning Discrimination

Last week, by a 7-1 vote, Northampton County Council agreed to ask voters to make a change to the county's Home Rule Charter. This is the county's constitution, and it does specifically ban discrimination in county employment. But the language used is antiquated and could be construed in a way that allows it to refuse employment on the basis of sexual orientation or identity. Council wants the Charter to reflect that we are a tolerant community and has faith that the voters will see it this way, too. There is a small minority of homophobes who will oppose this, but this is a country that recently had an openly gay Presidential candidate and a state that has numerous openly gay elected officials. Like Council, there is no doubt in my mind that a vast majority of NorCo voters will support this measure. It's time. Amazingly, this is opposed by Tara Zrinski, who distrusts the good will of the people of the Lehigh Valley. She has corralled two LGBTQ groups to pressure Executive Lamont McClure to veto what really is nothing more than a housekeeping measure. But what really takes the cake is the pressure brought by demagogue Justan Parker, who claims to lead Black Lives Matter Lehigh Valley.

Parker is the bullhorn-toting screamer who jumped to the wrong conclusion when Allentown police were forced to deal with a puking and staggering drug addict and drunk outside Sacred Heart St. Luke's in July. He had ingested seven bags of heroin along with some cocaine and was an immediate danger to himself and others. In the course of putting a spit mask on this fellow so he could be treated by medical personnel, an officer had his knee on this gentleman's head for a few seconds. There was no brutality. Officers were actually trying to help this guy. But a video shot by a passerby was blown out of proportion by Parker and other loudmouths. He organized a mob that has been banging on the doors and windows of Allentown City Council. He is at the front of the "Defund the Police" movement, and has participated in, if not led, chants of "Fuck the Police" and "Get Down or Lay Down."

In an August 26 letter to Executive Lamont McClure, Parker wants a veto.

Black Lives Matter Lehigh Valley is calling on you to veto the recently passed Voter referendum that would put LGBT civil rights on the ballot.

This issue is important to our organization as systemic racism and oppression negatively affect black and brown members of the LGBT community.

In this day and age, a majority population of non LGBT citizens should not have the opportunity to vote on protections and legal rights of a minority population of LGBT citizens.

In this current climate, we should be working together on ways to build our community with an emphasis around solidarity and love. Not a voter referendum that will only prove to LGBT residents that they are not supported by their neighbors.

Black Lives Matter is asking you to VETO this disturbing, offensive, and unnecessary voter referendum.

Do any of you think that Black Lives Matter LV had a meeting and actually voted on this matter? Of course not. I have to laugh when someone shouts "Fuck the Police" yet talks about "solidarity and love."

Parker is the mob. He is no different than a Maximilien de Robespierre, who led a Reign of Terror in the French Revolution.

McClure can follow the mob if he wants. Or he can trust the people who put him in office.