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Haley uses time-worn excuse as defense

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Illinois

* Background is here and here if you need it. The gist of NAACP Illinois State Conference President Teresa Haley’s remarks last October…

But these immigrants have come over here, they’ve been raping people. They’ve been breaking into homes. They’re like savages as well. They don’t speak the language and they look at us like we were crazy, because we were the only people in America who were brought over here against our wills and were slaves, sold into slavery. But everybody else who comes over here? We’re so kind we’re so friendly. You need some clothes, you need a place to stay? We’re gonna make it happen. So brother, I feel your pain. I’m right there with you. I’m trying not to be a [N-Word] but you know, I’m pro-Black.

* Haley talked with the Illinois Times this week…

Teresa Haley says her controversial comments about immigrants brought from the Mexican border to Chicago were misinterpreted and taken out of context. […]

Recalling the November Zoom call, Haley said savages isn’t a word that is part of her everyday vocabulary. She said she used the word in the video when she was summarizing and referring to the same term used by at least two other Illinois branch presidents during the meeting.

Illinois NAACP officials were airing concerns about immigrants being transported unannounced by Texas officials to impoverished, predominantly Black Chicago neighborhoods in late fall and winter.

Haley told Illinois Times she regretted repeating her peers’ comments.

“A good leader listens and summarizes what is being said,” she said. “My intent was just to simply have the conversations and let my branch presidents and leaders know, ‘I hear you. I’m listening to you.’”

I guess she has a different understanding of leadership than most.

* Back to the interview…

Haley said it was “out of order” for Gov. JB Pritzker to criticize her comments and call for her to apologize.

Haley said she believes the Democratic governor’s comments were fueled by policy differences between the two, including Haley’s opposition to legalization of adult-use marijuana and the NAACP’s unsuccessful legal challenge of the new legislative redistricting map that Pritzker signed into law.

Go read the rest.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jan 18, 24 @ 11:41 am

Comments

Teresa Haley doesn’t really help her anti-asylum position by using language like that.

Comment by Steve Thursday, Jan 18, 24 @ 11:49 am
“She said she used the word in the video when she was summarizing and referring to the same term used by at least two other Illinois branch presidents during the meeting”

Yeah, my kids used to pull that with the old “my sister said it first” argument.

Comment by Donnie Elgin Thursday, Jan 18, 24 @ 11:50 am
Haley is a disaster. She rails against legalized pot and then applies for and misuses cannabis grants from the city of Springfield, who also bought her building. She makes this great organization look horrible.

https://www.illinoistimes.com/news-opinion/cannabis-business-grant-recipients-push-back-on-audit-claims-17621474

Comment by FIREDup! Thursday, Jan 18, 24 @ 11:52 am
There’s no “context” that makes it ok to paint an entire group as criminals because of their ethnicity. Haley can spin it in whatever way helps her sleep at night, but don’t ask anyone else to believe it. That’s just bigotry.

Comment by One hand //ing Thursday, Jan 18, 24 @ 12:04 pm
=== Haley said she believes the Democratic governor’s comments were fueled by policy differences between the two ===

I seriously doubt the Governor has ever been aware of Haley’s position on any issue, or really of her existence prior to this episode.

Comment by vern Thursday, Jan 18, 24 @ 12:08 pm
Teresa Haley will need an excavator to dig herself out of this hole.

Comment by Rudy’s teeth Thursday, Jan 18, 24 @ 12:10 pm
Another Haley making inappropriate racial comments.

Comment by Big Dipper Thursday, Jan 18, 24 @ 12:12 pm
“But everybody else who comes over here? We’re so kind we’re so friendly. You need some clothes, you need a place to stay? We’re gonna make it happen.”

Leaving aside how ahistorical and dumb this statement is, Haley really could not do more to carry water for white reactionary politics.
Incredible self-delusion.

Comment by Larry Bowa Jr. Thursday, Jan 18, 24 @ 12:14 pm
the outcry to get her totally gone from this group should be much louder, I hope. the I don’t use that word everyday defense is pathetic. If this was said by someone else about those she represents she would be leading an appropriate firestorm. If any other leader behaved that way we would all react the same way: Go away.

Comment by Amalia Thursday, Jan 18, 24 @ 12:14 pm
Haley does seen to have a different understanding of the role of a leader. She also seems to have a different understanding of the role of NAACP historically, and at present.

I read the entire article. She refers to “my presidents.” They are not hers. They are locally elected representatives of the people of different regions of the state, and representatives of college students on some campuses, including my own campus. Haley does not represent the voice or the spirit or the desires of members in my community. She is instead oppositional to their desires to build community across ethnic lines in order to bring about equality and life all people up.

Comment by H-W Thursday, Jan 18, 24 @ 12:16 pm
“life” should be “lift.”

Comment by H-W Thursday, Jan 18, 24 @ 12:18 pm
It somehow makes it better/ok if two other NAACP branch presidents made those statements? Her “logic” is a bit twisted, at best.

Comment by Johnny Tractor Thursday, Jan 18, 24 @ 12:19 pm
The NAACP should have a voice on these issues. Perhaps it shouldn’t be hers.

Comment by What's in a name? Thursday, Jan 18, 24 @ 12:22 pm
Haley and the organization continue to embarrass themselves and undermine their mission each time she speaks. She has no business being in a leadership position.

Comment by Pundent Thursday, Jan 18, 24 @ 12:32 pm
I find Haley to be detestable and her bigotry stands in stark contrast to the mission and work of the NAACP. It baffles me how this historic organization remains associated with her.

Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Jan 18, 24 @ 12:46 pm
The inability of some adults to not be able to admit they are wrong never ceases to amaze me. She needs to be canned. Hold it though, I thought AI was behind this? No?

Comment by levivotedforjudy Thursday, Jan 18, 24 @ 12:55 pm
Call me crazy, but I don’t really care about the context if you say something contemptable.

Comment by TJ Thursday, Jan 18, 24 @ 12:59 pm
People are waiting for her to apologize or resign. She should have been fired the day this came out. The fact that she wasn’t is a terrible reflection on the organization.

Comment by Excessively Rabid Thursday, Jan 18, 24 @ 1:01 pm
If the NAACP doesn’t remove her, many of us will have a completely deaf ear to anything they say or want. This is a redline. Do something or surrender any voice you might have.

Comment by Lincoln Lad Thursday, Jan 18, 24 @ 1:17 pm
Why does she still hold any position with the NAACP? She should have been gone a long time ago.

Comment by JoanP Thursday, Jan 18, 24 @ 1:26 pm
If Doofus is a non-gender specific label, then Teresa Haley is certainly a Doofus.

Comment by Rudy’s teeth Thursday, Jan 18, 24 @ 1:56 pm
Q. Governor Pritzker, what about Teresa Haley?

A. Who?

Comment by Dotnonymous x Thursday, Jan 18, 24 @ 4:11 pm
=If the NAACP doesn’t remove her, many of us will have a completely deaf ear to anything they say or want.=

Agreed. At its core the NAACP’s mission is dedicated to denouncing the language and blatant racism that Haley is espousing. Failing to acknowledge that is hypocritical and undermines their work.

Comment by Pundent Thursday, Jan 18, 24 @ 6:56 pm
Didn’t she also blame AI initially and say it wasn’t even her saying it?

Comment by In the know Friday, Jan 19, 24 @ 10:26 am