"I worked for Pete Buttigieg. He did not respect black resident's struggles"

[booley]

......
HENRY DAVIS JR.: Well, thank you for having me. My time working with Mayor Buttigieg was — at best, it was contentious. It was very difficult to get across to him, and also to his administration, how African Americans were living in South Bend and some of the issues that confronted him on a daily basis. You’re talking about double-digit unemployment. You’re talking about a very high poverty rate, over 40%. You’re talking about high crime. You’re talking about schools shutting down and closing. And even some of his policies, when it came to “a thousand houses in a thousand days” program, when he decided to go through the hood or, you know, in the black and brown areas, and he wanted to demolish these homes, and the homes were demolished. But it wasn’t the fact that some of those homes didn’t need to come down; it was the fact that there was no affordable housing program that came behind it. And so, now we’re still dealing with, you know, empty lots, high weeds and a lot of varmints that are living in those empty lots. And so, when you talk about right now even with the police force, you have the lowest numbers serving of African-American officers in the police force in South Bend.

So, you know, there are a number of issues that confronted the African-American community and that he really chose not to deal with. And so, as a councilman and having a predominantly black district, a lot of those fights were held and had on the council floor, and I did as much as I could to satisfy the residents and the constituencies, but it was very hard going back and forth and not getting that money invested back in the community like it should have been. And so, here we are now, you know, dealing with a presidential idea of a Pete Buttigieg, and even back in South Bend, how do we correct some of these social ills in its environment.

AMY GOODMAN: You know —

HENRY DAVIS JR.: African Americans — go ahead, I’m sorry.

AMY GOODMAN: I wanted to say, the whole country learned about the murder of Eric Logan, a black South Bend resident who was shot and killed by a white police officer, Ryan O’Neill, because, of course, at the time, Mayor Pete Buttigieg was running for president. Can you talk about how he handled that, and also about the firing of the first black police chief, Darryl Boykins?

HENRY DAVIS JR.: Well, just like I was just talking about, he didn’t handle it. And if he did handle it, it was a fumble. Eric Logan was a culmination of events that took place since he took office back in 2012. Right after he took office, there was a young man by the name of Michael Anderson that ended up dying under suspicious circumstances with the South Bend Police Department. There was another young man named DeShawn Franklin, who happened to be asleep in his home, and he was attacked and brutally beaten up by South Bend police. And, you know, none of those officers were even disciplined. Then you had Eric Logan. And a lot of things happened in between there, as well, but then you have Eric Logan, who died at the end of a gun. And so, you know, it just has not been a good ride. South Bend needs a do-over.

And this is like, you know, the thing that has happened right now with the Democratic Party as a whole. You know, blacks, African Americans, is the backbone of the Democratic Party. And we desire good schools. We desire safe neighborhoods. We desire good jobs. We desire the same thing that most people desire and need and want to live in America. And if we are planning on beating a Donald Trump this coming November, we have to have an organized and unified attack that’s going to make sure that there’s a candidate out in front that’s going to be interested in making sure that we not only vote, but those things that we’re voting for are going to happen. And right now you have a slew, a slate of candidates. They’re everywhere. They’re not talking about the hardcore issues that you would talk about at your kitchen table, at your local diner or even at church. They’re not talking about those things. They’re talking about just like a lot of different wild ideas on how this is supposed to work. This is not a student council race. This is for the presidency of the United States of America. This is the ruler of the free world. And African Americans are Americans, and we desire to have our priorities as a part of someone’s platform.

Full Interview at Democracy Now!

[wyldwolf]

1. As Al Sharpton said this morning, every candidate in 2020 has a race problem

[AtheistCrusader]

6. Every remaining candidate.

And that is very unfortunate.

[wyldwolf]

8. yes, noted.

[TomSlick]

17. What Rev. Al did not say is who AA voters should support.

Let's go Rev. Al, make a call. Who is the lesser of evils?

[Scotch-Irish]

2. I just don't think Mayor Pete is ready to take on a devastated USA.

We need Elizabeth and Bernie to bring change that is substantive.

[frazzled]

13. And what exactly have they ever done

to improve the lives of the African American communities in their states? Don't cite general civil rights bills that they and every Democrat have voted for in Congress; we're talking about constituent services that have brought money into minority neighborhoods and/or addressed specific concerns of the constituents these communities.

As for Sanders, it's kind of moot: Vermont's black population stands at 1.9% (compare to South Bend's 26.3% population). So he's really never had to do anything.
For Warren in Massachusetts (6.8%), racism has been and remains a problem in that state, especially in Boston (28%), one of the most segregated cities in America, and not just for housing. (I lived there for 5 years, so I witnessed first hand). What has she done to alleviate the issues of racism for her MA constituents?

[Scotch-Irish]

14. She has done most of her work for communities of color through supporting education

Which is exactly what most black communities in Massachusetts have asked for.

[frazzled]

24. Most education issues are at the state and local level

Not the federal. Let’s be fair, she says the right things, and that’s good, but she has never had to deal with fixing on-the-ground problems as urban mayors do. So it’s a bit unfair to criticize other candidates who have. That’s all I’m saying.

[Laelth]

39. Well-made point. n/t

-Laelth

[Demsrule86]

19. You had me with Elizabeth...she could win with a good VP...but Sander no...he will lose the General.

And will vote for Mike Bloomberg if that is what it takes to win this election.

[Garrett78]

3. Biden's glimmer of hope rests on Buttigieg's alienation of Black folks...

...and Klobuchar's lack of POC support. Plus, I don't think they have much infrastructure in upcoming states. It's hard to see where either Buttigieg or Klobuchar can win going forward.

[jimfields33]

4. Uh oh.

[cwydro]

5. Anthony Brown, who is working to elect Buttigieg (and is black) said Pete improved South Bend.

A shame people are trying to use race to divide Dems.

[SWBTATTReg]

10. Yes. It is a shame. There are obviously some who are still mad that their candidates...

aren't in first place or polling better, I am guessing IMHO.

[7wo7rees]

7. Anyone here looking, paying attention? Mayor Pete does have significant

Baggage. Period.

[George II]

9. Hoo boy!

[Hassin Bin Sober]

11. K and R

[Srkdqltr]

12. Everyone has some sort of baggage.

No one running is perfect. The trick is to pick the one who can do a good job. I know, not easy. All have good and bad points.

[Mad cow]

15. Worked with, not for...

Perhaps a minor point, but Henry Davis, Jr worked WITH Pete as a council member, not for Pete as an employee. The actual interview has a different title than your post, and it does convey a slightly different meaning. It isn't unusual for there to be some contention between council members and a mayor. He also ran against Pete and was defeated in the mayoral primary. That's not to say that his concerns are invalid, but Henry Davis, Jr. does have his own controversial history locally.

[mr_lebowski]

28. Thanks for that clarification and well written post. Also, welcome to DU :)

Hope you find it to you liking, nice to have you aboard ...

[Celerity]

16. Henry Davis, Jr., a raging homophobe, has long been a virulent South Bend Buttigieg critic

This bloke has been all over the press for over a year and half, slagging off Buttigieg


Davis is a long time gay basher and a failed mayoral candidate against Pete in 2015


Antigay Councilmember Posts Bestiality Photo On Facebook To Protest DOMA Repeal

https://www.queerty.com/antigay-councilmember-posts-bestiality-photo-on-facebook-to-protest-doma-repeal-20140128

Are you ready for your daily installment of “Crazy Right-Wing Elected Officials Who Just Make Stuff Up About Gay People?” Yes? Okay, let’s begin.

Today’s hetero hero is South Bend, Indiana, City Councilman Henry Davis, Jr., who decided that it would be a good idea to post a photo of a man having sex with a dog on Facebook. His reason: to raise awareness that the repeal of DOMA inadvertently legalized bestiality.

The only problem with this, of course, is that it isn’t true. Bestiality is still against the rules. Obviously. It’s a ludicrous claim that is instantly unbelievable on its face. (And just to be thorough, Stars & Stripes debunked the myth long ago.)

And now that we think of it, there are a number of other problems as well, such as you can’t post pictures like that on Facebook, you idiot. Also, you probably shouldn’t post pictures like that anywhere, or even be in possession of those types of images for that matter.

The photo in question has vanished from Davis’ page, and there are no screengrabs. And to be clear, we wouldn’t post it even if there were, because unlike certain members of the South Bend City Council, we do not traffic in photos of animal sexual abuse. Pup play with consenting human adults is great fun! Sex with animals is not okay. City Councilmembers please make a note of it.

snip


https://politicalfails.wordpress.com/tag/henry-davis-jr/

OCTOBER 13, 2015

Henry Davis, Jr.


The South Bend, Indiana Councilman got himself into trouble for posting an “explicit picture” of a man having sex with a dog…while discussing his opposition to LGBT people serving openly in the military. Yes, that actually happened.

https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:2IsIWK-V15YJ:https://politicalfails.wordpress.com/2014/01/31/south-bend-in-councilman-posts-explicit-picture-of-man-and-dog-to-facebook/+&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=se

In the aftermath of this fail, Davis ran for Mayor – unsuccessfully. He was also arrested for operating a vehicle while under the influence. Davis remains a member of South Bend Common Council.

snip


another staunch foe is another anti-LGBTQ Bigot, Oliver Davis, who is no relation to Henry, but also was a SB City Council member and has also non-stop slagged out Pete

(Oliver Davis btw, supported and campaigned for Henry Davis against Pete for Mayor in 2015 AFTER the shite above went down)

Oliver Davis is one of his long-time political foes & is anti LGBTQ, he was crushed in the Democratic 2019 South Bend mayoral primary (he got only 6%) by the Buttigieg endorsed candidate. He and another SB councilman (now ex) Henry Davis (they are not related) have both been anti LGBTQ for ages, Henry Davis viciously so.


South Bend Council Members Henry Davis Jr. & Oliver Davis Do Not Support Equal Rights For GLBT

http://bilerico.lgbtqnation.com/2009/06/sb_councilmen_henry_davis_jr_oliver_davi.php

Many in South Bend are praising Mayor Steve Luecke for his executive order issued Wednesday that bans GLBT discrimination of city employees and prospective workers. However, council members Henry Davis Jr. (district 2) and Oliver Davis (district 6) are not. In 2006 the Common Council considered a similar proposal which would have banned GLBT discrimination city-wide but the measure was defeated by "one vote". Council members Henry Davis Jr. and Oliver Davis were not on the council in 2006 so it is not clear how they would have voted but their initial reaction to Mayor's executive order sheds light on how they might vote in the future.

Mayor Luecke's motive for issuing the executive order:

The City of South Bend is a progressive community that believes in freedom and equality of opportunity for all. We treat everyone with dignity and respect," Luecke said. "This order ensures that my administration will not tolerate discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in employment decisions, including hiring, firing, promotion, compensations or other terms and conditions of city employment.

The executive order seems pretty straight forward. A person will be judged solely on the basis of individual merit. Everyone deserves to be treated respectfully and with dignity. If you do a good job you should be promoted and if you are a qualified person you should be hired. Not "special rights" just the "same rights" as everyone else.

Why would anyone object to this?

Council member Henry Davis Jr. had this to say to WSBT:

"This is going to come back to the council at an extreme time and give us more work rather than focusing on the budget," said council member Henry Davis, Jr.

First of all this isn't going to cost the taxpayers a dime. Second of all, is council member Henry Davis Jr. implying an area as important as insuring equal rights for all is too "inconvenient" for him to take time to deal with? Well, this is not the first time he has found something too "inconvenient" to deal with.

snip

I am posting to show what Buttigieg has had to go through with some on the council (there are others too) who get megaphone amplified, initially by the TYT/Sirota/JD/DSA/Jacobin crowd who have camped out in South Bend since April 2019 digging up dirt and shit stir, and they then pass it on to the MSM if necessary (via twitter trolls). Again Henry Davis Jr. was Oliver Davis's long time SB city council ally. Here is a perfect example of Oliver Davis being used as a weapon for the who knows how many time by TYT with a real shit hit piece.

[MoonRiver]

20. Thank you for speaking truth!

[BootinUp]

21. Very informative. Thanks for that. Nt

[redqueen]

22. And that guy is STILL IN OFFICE

WTF, South Bend?!

[Celerity]

27. I cannot believe that Democracy now did not background this bigoted pos

he and other assorted SB cranks have been a TYT/Sirota//DSA and ultra left twittersphere/social media etc etc wrecking crew staples since Pete first came to national prominence

so many are politicians who got steamrollered in SB elections or others who have legal and financial vendettas against the city

it is disgusting to see this utter rot posted here

but not surprising one bit

[Celerity]

32. he just got back onto the Council, AND the woman he replaced is another

notorious Pete basher with ulterior motives. Regina Williams-Preston, who is another darling of the TYT/Sirota/red rose patrol crowd. She was also crushed in elections and also owed the city a shit tonne of money in slum lord fines. She of course was an everpresent source for the bullshit spun up phoney gentrification 'scandal'

There have been hundreds of stories that have tried to smear Buttigieg over everything under the sun, and it is 80/90% based off one or more of these small group of agenda-ed political axe-grinders.

The people overseeing all this smearing, which is far from just limited to Pete, are serious pros, with a huge bent towards Rethug dirty tricks style hit jobs.

the sickening thing is, almost none of this gutter smear campaign is DIRECTED AT TRUMP

always at all the other of our candidates

[mobeau69]

23. Thanks, Celerity.

One of those trash stories that smell immediately. It should be taken down. Pete is a good and decent man and South Bend residents know it. The changes he's made in South Bend are remarkable.

[babylonsister]

25. Thank you!

Seems disingenuous of Democracy Now. They research...can't imagine what their agenda is.

[Docreed2003]

26. +1

Edit to add Thanks for sharing!

[mr_lebowski]

29. Coming through STRONG with da facts! Thanks Celerity! nt

[Celerity]

35. this is far from the first time I have run across Davis, unfortunately

which is why I was able to toss that all together so fast

certain outside parties are relentless in the smears ever since last April

it wore me down by last fall

I will do the same for any of our other candidates as well

the same busy bees are TRASHING Klocbuchar as we speak on social media

Bloomberg too

the truly distressing thing is that even world class sources like the Guardian are being duped into giving some really dodgy people global voices

it is creating a lot of intra-party Sturm und Drang and only serves to aid the Trumpian/Putin forces at the end of the day

[mr_lebowski]

37. Totally with ya, and I see you do this sort of thing all the time ...

Facts still matter to a lot of us, and your hard work is much appreciated.

I think I've told ya that before, but ... never hurts to hear again I figure

[Celerity]

38. aww, hugzzzz

[denem]

30. Critically important background info

[dsc]

33. I will admit I had no idea about this history

not just imagine for a second, that when Obama was running a Conservative Citizens' Council member went around the country criticizing him, do you think that his affiliation with a racist group just might have merited a mention. I have read and watched much about Mayor Pete and this is the first I heard of Davis' virulantly anti gay views.

[Celerity]

36. I posted about him ages ago in the Pete group nt

[FreeState]

44. +1000

Same on those Democrats spreading this crap.

[Demsrule86]

18. Do you think this will help you...I would say Sanders isn't much better with AA voters than Pete

coming from lilywhite...Vermont. I really tire of this sort of thing.

[HarlanPepper]

40. So OPs like this don't make you want to vote for Sanders?

Yeah, me neither. Quite the opposite.

[Demsrule86]

42. Exactly....

[MBS]

31. Put this into context. Henry Davis is a longtime political rival

He also ran against Pete for Mayor and placed 5th in the race. He has a personal beef against him.

There are many more African-American residents of South Bend who have been and are very very supportive of Pete. Indeed, many of them are campaigning for them.

Enough already.

[Mike Nelson]

34. Henry Davis is ...

... not a reliable source, but I suppose it's smart to attack Pete when he's working to understand and support POC. I hope it does not work. Let's work to help the Democratic candidates learn and improve.

[Bradical79]

41. There's a reason he's my 2nd to last choice

It's a race to the bottom between him and Bloomberg.

[Demsrule86]

43. Sanders is not even an option for me in the primary...I will vote for someone who can win a general.

He has my vote in a General.