COUNCIL ENDORSES REPARATIONS

By Larry Ault/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF

The Pine Bluff City Council voted Tuesday to allow 1st Ward Alderwoman Irene Holcomb to sign a resolution endorsing reparations for African-Americans.

The resolution endorsed a U.S. House of Representatives bill that would create a panel to study the possibility of reparations for African-Americans.

The resolution was sponsored by 4th Ward Alderman Jackie Kirby.

The aldermen gave Holcomb permission to sign a resolution the City Council passed in November 2003 because Mayor Dutch King declined to sign it.

"That legislation is basically ceremonial, saying we endorse this sort of thing," Holcomb, an African-American council member, told the council.

The issue of King declining to sign the resolution surfaced after Barbara Muhammad of Pine Bluff complained, saying, "Several attempts were made to contact the mayor without success as to why he didn't sign the resolution.

"The mayor's office said that a copy has been sent to the various entities," she said. "As of this date, there has been no confirmation that the resolution has been received."

When the resolution passed, Holcomb spoke in favor of it, saying that Japanese Americans have received reparations for the injustices they suffered during World War II.

"I believe that Mayor Dutch King owes the citizens of Pine Bluff an explanation," Muhammad said. "His actions were an insult to the intelligence of the citizens of this community."

She also asked for King's resignation as mayor.

Chris Brown, assistant to King, said Wednesday the resolution did not require the mayor's signature.

It has been sent twice to the appropriate authorities, but Brown said he was unable to determine why its receipt had not been acknowledged. The resolution was directed at several individuals and organizations, including the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America and the Congressional Black Caucus.

"It was sent twice," King said. "I do not have to sign it. I didn't want to sign it. I don't think I have to sign it."

King said he is not required to sign resolutions because a resolution is not a law.

First Ward Alderman Jack Foster suggested that the City Council substitute Holcomb's signature on the resolution. The council voted by voice vote to permit Holcomb to sign the resolution.

"Let the senior alderman sign it," Foster said.

"At some point there will have to be some justice or there won't be any peace in this city," Holcomb said.

When the council voted on the reparations resolution last year, the four black aldermen all voted in favor of the resolution. They were Foster, Kirby, Holcomb and former 4th Ward alderman Billy Freeman.

Third Ward Alderman Bill Brumett, who is white, also voted for the measure. The remaining white aldermen, 2nd Ward Alderman Dale Dixon, 2nd Ward Alderman Wayne Easterly and 3rd Ward Alderman Derwood Smith, abstained from voting.