A member of the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People says Jackie Wagstaff remains censured: The war continues

A member of the Executive Committee of the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People says Jackie Wagstaff, despite the opinion of many at last night’s meeting, remains censured as head of the groups Political Committee.

The Executive Committee members says the General Body of the Durham Committee voted to suspend indefinitely conversations regarding Wagstaff’s status as Chair of the Political Committee.

The Legal Redress Committee contends a lack of a vote failed to remove the censure of Wagstaff.  An official statement will be released regarding the Executive Committee’s position within the next week.

A document written by the Legal Redress Committee, claims that Wagstaff executed a state document to reserve the name of “The Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People.

”At no point over more than a month did she notify any other officer of this action or seek professional guidance from those in the organization professionally qualified to do such work,” the documents states

Wagstaff addressed the accusation during a July 25, 2013 meeting. 

At that meeting, Wagstaff  “a) admitted to having filed said document; b)made negative characterizations about the professional capabilities of the current chair of the Legal Redress Committee and alleged that for 75 years this organization has not ‘taken care of business’ as a justification for her unilateral action; c) disrupted the July 25, 2013 meeting by raising her voice and using inappropriate language for the setting within which the meeting was being held; d) immediately after the meeting had to be restrained from initiating a physical encounter with the General Body Chair,” the document reads.

The Executive Committee has concerns regarding Wagstaff taking unilateral actions and in making statements to the “press without consultation with the General Body Chair.”  The document holds Wagstaff to task for refusing to allow the Chair of the General Body to review questions to be submitted to candidates to the fall election before being issued.

In addition, “Ms. Wagstaff has engaged in roles on behalf of the Committee that fall outside the mandate of the Political Committee or that of the Chair of the Political Committee and has done so without gaining permission prior to doing so or even as a matter of courtesy informing the General Body Chair after the fact,” the document states.

“Examples of this include playing the role of a condolence committee of the Committee by attending funerals and providing correspondence again without notice to the General Body Chair either before or after such events.”

The Legal Redress Committee’s document stressed an attitude of divisiveness that defines Wagstaff’s involvement as a member of the Executive Committee.

“In nearly every presentation that Ms. Wagstaff has made she attempts to create a straw man that she describes as “Ya’ll.” Typically she uses the straw man as an example of inaction by the organization. For example, when questioned about filing the document with the secretary of state she stated in an open meeting that “ya’ll haven’t been taking care of business” Further, she has typically sought to divide the organization instead of attempting to unify the organization.”

Wagstaff is accused of slamming books on tables, raising her voice, using unacceptable language and behaving in a threatening and uncontrollable way during Executive Committee meetings.

Divisiveness may have escalated after last night’s ambiguous vote.  Supporters of Wagstaff believe she’s still in charge of the Political Committee, while members of the Executive Committee maintain the vote forces a change in leadership.

This isn’t over yet.