Tyrus Byrd being sworn into office in Parma, Missouri
What the hell were they afraid of?
Born and raised in tiny Parma, Missouri, Tyrus Byrd, a Christian missionary and the city clerk of Parma, decided she wanted to give running for mayor a shot. She beat the incumbent mayor, a white man, by 37 votes. Before she could take office, police officers and city employees scrambled like roaches with the light flipped on:
Tyrus Byrd will be sworn in as mayor on Tuesday evening, April 14, at the Parma Community Building. According to Mayor Randall Ramsey, five out of six police officers resigned this week, effectively immediately.
Mayor Ramsey said the city's attorney, the clerk and the waste water treatment plant supervisor also turned in resignation letters citing "safety concerns."
Mayor Elect, Tyrus Byrd, said she was unaware of the situation and plans to ask questions about the "safety concerns" during Tuesday night's ceremony.
Safety concerns?
What in the world did they expect Mayor-Elect Byrd to do? While it's deeply offensive, puzzling, and highly suspicious that so many elected officials scrambled the moment the first African-American mayor in the history of Parma, Missouri, was elected, it's hard not to think they did her a favor.
If the very presence of a black woman in power causes you to fear for your safety, you shouldn't be a public servant.