Portland observer., March 07, 2012, Page 17, Image 17

March 7. 2012
Page 17
Montana Judge Sends Vulgar, Racist Email
‘Joke’ labels Obama as product
of mother’s liaison with a dog
If you’ve ever wondered how low
Obama haters can go with their rac­
ism, the answer is there is no bottom.
"That was pretty much proved in
the revelation of an email forwarded
by a federal judge. The email basi­
cally says President Obama’s mother
had sex with a dog, and he’s the
result. But of course the judge in
question denied circulating the note
because it was racist, but because it
was anti-Obama,” reports Politico.
Judge Richard Cebull of Billings,
Mont, forwarded the email from his
chambers to six other people on Feb.
20, The Great Falls Tribune reported.
“A little boy said to his mother;
‘Mommy, how come I'm black and
you’re white?”’ the e-mail joke reads.
“His mother replied, ‘Don’t even go
there Barack! From what I can remem­
ber about that party, you’re lucky
you don’t bark!”’
Cebull told the newspaper that his
brother sent him the email, which he
forwarded to six "old buddies" and
acquaintances.
The judge apologized and ac­
Richard Cebull
A d v o ca te Jo in s C iv il R ig h ts P a n e l
Sunny Petit, chair of the
Oregon Commission for
Women, has been named
to the Oregon Council on
Civil Rights.
In making the appoint­
ment, Oregon Labor Com­
missioner Brad Avakian,
said Petit’s advocacy on
equal pay issues will be
crucial in the effort to lay
out an action plan to en-
sure equal pay for equal work
in the state of Oregon.
Petit is the associate direc­
to r o f P o rtla n d S tate
U n iv e rs ity ’s C e n te r for
Women, Politics and Policy.
She has also studied and
worked on issues such as hu­
man trafficking and women’s
political development in the
United States and abroad.
SunnyPetit
knowledged that the content of
the em ail was racist, but said he
does not consider him self racist,
the newspaper reported. He said
he has treated all people in his
courtroom fairly, and he has not
heard any com plaints otherwise.
"The only reason I can explain
it to you is I am not a fan o f our
president, but this goes beyond
not being a fan," Cebull said. "I
didn't send it as racist, although
that's what it is. I sent it out be­
cause it's anti-Obam a."
Cebull was nominated by former
President George W. Bush and re­
ceived his commission in 2001. He
has served as chief judge of the
Hidden Black
History Unveiled
A free discussion about the real history of
African Americans in Oregon at the North Port­
land M ultnom ah County Library, 512 N.
Killingsworth S t, will be held Sunday, March 11
at3:30p.m.
“Why Aren’t There More Black People in
Oregon? A Hidden History,” is the topic of the
discussion to be led by Portland State University
author and adjunct professor Walidah Imarisha.
District of Montana since 2008.
Travis M cAdam , executive di­
rector for the M ontana Hum an
Rights Network, said the em ail's
content was unbecom ing o f a fed­
eral judge.
"It's one thing if the ju d g e is
not a fan o f President Barack
Obama, but you would think som e­
one in his position w ould articu­
late that in a way that criticizes his
policy decisions or his position
on issues," M cAdam said. "We
have a hard time believing that a
legitim ate criticism o f the p resi­
dent involves distributing a joke
that basically com pares African
A m ericans with anim als."
Oregon has a history of not only black exclusion
and discrimination, but also of a vibrant Black culture
that helped sustain many communities throughout
the state — a history that is not taught in schools.
This program is hosted by Multnomah County
Library and sponsored by Oregon Humanities.
Imarisha has taught in PSU’s Black studies de­
partment, where she has created classes about top­
ics as diverse as the history of the Black Panther
Party; race and the history of prisons; Hurricane
Katrina; and hip hop as literature. She has facilitated
writing workshops for students in grades 3-12 and in
community centers, youth detention facilities, and
women’s prisons.
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