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Resident urges council to consider racial harms, cites Native American history and personal distress
Summary
A public commenter addressed the council about racial targeting and the impact on the Native community, saying she felt threatened and recounting historical injustices; she expressed support for a council member’s remarks and described personal PTSD related to discrimination.
During public comment a Hot Springs resident addressed the council in emotional testimony about racial targeting and the effect on Native people.
The commentator said she feared people were being targeted because of the color of their skin and described having severe PTSD; she asked when the general public was made aware of the issue discussed that night. She referenced historical mistreatment of Native Americans, saying, "I thought we would have learned from World War II about concentration camps and internment camps... And I thought we would have learned in 1492 what happens to Native Americans in this country. My people were killed to give each and every one of you the right to sit in this center here and sit on council." She told council members she was "standing up for the native community" and said she supported remarks previously made by a council member named Deb.
Her comments were recorded during the public-comment portion of the meeting and were personal testimony; no formal council action on the matters she raised was recorded that evening.
