LANSING — Today, after weeks of inaction, Governor Snyder announced that he will only dock Michigan State Police (MSP) director Col. Kristie Kibby Etue five days of pay for her Facebook post that disparaged National Football League (NFL) players who “took a knee” during the pre-game national anthem to protest racial oppression and police brutality against African Americans.
“This administration continues to ignore the fact that Col. Etue’s post has seriously damaged her credibility and compromised her leadership,” said Rep. Sheldon Neeley (D-Flint). “As we have attempted to work with the governor in the wake of failed policies, it has become clear that this attempt is one-sided. We have experienced no genuine movement of policies and the priorities of people of color but an egregious and obstructive abuse of political influence that undermines even a hint of fairness and equitable treatment.”
Neeley also pointed out that, according to a recent Lansing Journal report, racial diversity is a problem in most of the state’s departments. According to the report, between 2012 and 2016 the number of people of color in Michigan state government declined by 8%.
“The governor has demonstrated time and again that his policies are a carefully calculated continuation of oppressive practices,” Neeley added. “Whether we are talking about the crisis in Flint, the crisis in the Michigan State Police or the crisis in confidence this administration has inspired, there is a failure in delivering reform to all Michiganders, especially in urban areas. The Snyder administration has a lot of work to do to restore community confidence.”