"We applaud the proactive citizens of Sussex County who took time to draft this resolution, hoping that our governing bodies within the county would proceed appropriately and open a dialogue with the public. We at the SCDC wish we could feign surprise at the dismal and, frankly, lackluster response of Commissioner Director Fantasia and her cohorts concerning this significant effort facilitated by the people of our county. But sadly, we cannot."
SCDC APPLAUDS GRASSROOTS PUSH TO DENOUNCE HATE
At the most recent County Commissioners meeting that took place on Wednesday, January 27, 2021 via Zoom, the Sussex County Democratic Committee was proud to see exceptional bravery and courage from members of the public. A resolution was introduced that condemned and denounced white nationalism, white supremacy, Neo-Nazism, anti-constitutional violence and hate within Sussex County. The resolution would help to promote an inclusive, equitable and fair environment for community members of all colors, creeds, and political affiliations. The resolution was written with the intent of sending a clear message to every Sussex County resident, as well as entities outside of the county, that Sussex will not succumb to hate and violence, regardless of the rationale or politically driven motivation of certain individuals. Furthermore, it attested to the desire for Sussex County to reaffirm its commitment, as a community of true law-abiding patriots, that their love for their country would never waiver in the face of hate and violent intimidation.
The resolution was not written by the Sussex County Commissioners or by the county’s representatives in the Assembly and Senate. Instead, the resolution was written by the people of Sussex County – a grassroots effort made by citizens to convey the stance of residents whose County Commissioners had failed to do so in the face of recent events. We applaud the proactive citizens of Sussex County who took time to draft this resolution, hoping that our governing bodies within the county would proceed appropriately and open a dialogue with the public. We at the SCDC wish we could feign surprise at the dismal and, frankly, lackluster response of Commissioner Director Fantasia and her cohorts concerning this significant effort facilitated by the people of our county. But sadly, we cannot.
The Commissioner Board, led by Director Fantasia, all but ignored the resolution after it was read and supported by many members of the public. Director Fantasia simply stated that “any member of the public can send them (the Commissioners) whatever they like.” Her predictable commentary filled with status quo indifference was, yet again, anything but shocking. Director Fantasia has, for years, supported local political fanatics and organizations who saw the January 6th insurrection as a positive page in American history. This explains her and her fellow commissioners’ weak response, only releasing a bland and ineffective statement days after the initial Capitol attack that claimed 5 lives and injured over 140 brave Capitol Police Officers. Now that it is no longer politically expedient for Fantasia and her counterparts on the Commissioner board to be connected to these radicals, they are walking the fine line of not exactly disavowing this type of behavior and political violence, but not supporting it either, as career politicians so often do. The resolution presented is a straightforward statement that any true patriot with the drive to protect and defend our democracy would support.
The Sussex County Democratic Committee fully endorses this non-partisan, anti-hate resolution and calls on the Sussex County Board of Commissioners to pass the resolution, as it reads, immediately! The role of good government is to listen to, represent, respect and work with the people who elected you. The residents of this county have spoken, loudly in support of an official resolution to make clear that this type of political violence and terrorism will have no place in our county or our nation regardless of political identification, party, or organization. Failure to pass this resolution would be a stain not only on the Commissioners, but on Sussex County as a whole. The County Commissioners and their Director Dawn Fantasia must put aside their petty political agenda and take action in a manner that is morally right, which is passing the resolution introduced at the January 27th meeting. To do so will accurately represent the desire of law-abiding residents within Sussex County and will also demonstrate a responsible governing body working on behalf of their constituents.