Pastor Byrd's Response to Council Vote, Part 1

Disclaimer: These are Pastor Ike Byrd's comments, not of the Monroe Dispatch.

The words, "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. remain as relevant today as ever. His thoughts emphasize that those who are trapped within the confines of their own minds will never experience true freedom. When your mind is enslaved, you become your own greatest obstacle to liberation.

There has been significant discussion among Monroe citizens following the city council's decision to reject the appointment of Pastor Ike Byrd as the next Director of Community Affairs. In response to what he described as "the events of the past few weeks," Pastor Byrd spoke with the Monroe Dispatch in an interview he requested, sharing how the situation has weighed heavily on him. He explained that he has received numerous calls and a "multitude" of messages, particularly concerning the votes cast by the African American council members.

Byrd, not typically a supporter of Facebook, acknowledged that since this situation has largely played out on social media and in local news, he felt compelled to share his own perspective, stating that he was "the victim" in this matter. He emphasized that for the sake of complete transparency, he would be sharing his thoughts from the beginning, without any alterations.

Pastor Ike Byrd said his message has always been clear: his priorities are transparency and truth, especially when a public matter is involved.

In an interview he shared that the city council's decision to reject his appointment was not due to any lack of information or misunderstanding regarding the mayor’s choice, nor was it related to the city's charter requirements.

According to Byrd, he first contacted the council chair, Ms. Juanita Woods, by text on July 15, 2024, asking her to call at her convenience. During their conversation, Byrd shared his decision to accept the position of Director of Community Affairs, and Ms. Woods expressed her support, saying she believed he was the right person for the job, given his community work. She also mentioned a young man she thought would be a great asset to the city in another role, providing his name and sharing that his mother was a member of Byrd’s church.

Byrd then reached out to Mr. Verbon Muhammad, sharing the same information. Muhammad acknowledged Byrd’s work in the community and inquired about other candidates for the position. Byrd explained that he was unsure of others applying but believed it was a direct appointment from the mayor. Byrd said Muhammad assured him that he would consider his request. Next, Byrd also attempted to contact Bishop McFarland, but after receiving no response, he left a voicemail.

In the minutes of the meeting held on August 27, 2024, Mr. Muhammad stated that he had just received the information concerning the appointment and was not prepared to vote. However, according to Pastor Byrd, they had spoken on July 15, 2024. On Wednesday, August 7, at 8:54 AM, Pastor Byrd received a text message from Mr. Roosevelt Wright of the Free Press, asking, "Can you confirm your selection as Community Affairs Director for the City of Monroe? If so, when do you start?" Due to the lack of greeting, Byrd chose not to respond. At 10:05 AM, Wright sent a second message with the same inquiry, but again, Byrd did not reply. A few minutes later, at 10:29 AM, Wright sent another message, stating, "Muhammad said you asked him for support. What about Juanita?" Byrd said that he still did not respond.

Byrd's question remains - if Mr. Muhammad had only just received the information prior to the August 27, 2024, council meeting, why had he been in communication with Mr. Wright before that meeting occurred?

Byrd also shared information Mr. Wright posted in his online paper [published] on August 8, 2024 saying, "One month into the new council term, Monroe Mayor Friday Ellis is still resisting efforts to work with his new Southside majority, and what was once simple is now a challenge that will make governing extremely difficult. A case in point is the mayor's attempt to appoint one of his political allies to head the Community Affairs Department. The mayor's choice, a local Black pastor, broke with the Black community and supported his re-election in the Spring election. The mayor wants to reward him with a lucrative job as a city department head. The only problem is the preacher does not meet the charter-mandated qualifications for the position. This alone should give pause, as the role oversees a multimillion-dollar budget and numerous city amenities. Bypassing these requirements not only undermines the integrity of the appointment process but also potentially jeopardizes the effective management of critical community resources."

Part 2 of this article will be shared in next week's Monroe Dispatch.