The Voice of Ida B Wells

Hmmmm. Playing both sides. In January, they were joined at the hip—two peas in a pod. Now, by July, we are told that one of them is suddenly “not capable” of running his department. Which is it? Or is it that the true mayor sits elsewhere, whispering into his ear? I have my suspicions—but that is a matter for another day.

Let us look at the facts before us. Mr. Peterson, a longtime resident of Minden, and yes—the “right” color—files a complaint. Suddenly, the Mayor and the Police Department are turned upside down. Was this truly the first complaint lodged against the police? Of course not. But it only took the right person, with the right face, to make City Hall listen. And just like that, the Mayor and the Police Chief stand at odds, and the people are left to wonder: what else will spill out from behind those locked doors?

Now, out comes the $25,000. A check signed by the City Clerk alone. One signature. No oversight. And yet the law is clear: no single hand should hold such authority. Where is the reprimand? Where is the accountability? For I am certain, if this had been a Black employee, their punishment would have been swift and severe—they would already be at home, stripped of duty and reputation.

This is not her first stain, not the first time her character has been called unworthy of the trust of the people. And yet she remains. Why? Because the Mayor is no stranger to these matters. With the ties between his wife, the City Clerk, and the Assistant City Clerk, there is no doubt he has full disclosure of all that transpires in City Hall. Add to this the cameras and the phone recordings—tools that place every whisper, every signature, every move within his reach. Do not be deceived.

When two heads butt, as they now do, it is not the clash of righteousness against corruption—it is power straining to protect itself. The shame is not in the fight itself, but in the charade, the hypocrisy, the way justice is bent to serve friendship, color, and convenience.

And the greater shame is this: while they spar for control, it is the people of Minden who bear the weight of their deceit.