Jokes about race, even those made in private, serve to normalize discrimination, former Snohomish County Executive and Sheriff John Lovick said Tuesday. Lovick, now a state lawmaker, sent a statement to Fire District 1 before a public meeting that focused on racially charged comments made earlier this month by two commissioners.
The commissioners, Bob Meador and David Chan, repeatedly were urged to resign Tuesday by firefighters and representatives of the Latino community who filled the district’s meeting room south of Everett. Several of those who commented noted they were worried the commissioners’ comments would hurt the district’s relationship with the people they serve, particularly Latinos. Tables were removed to make room for dozens of attendees, some of whom said they had heard a call to action on Spanish-language radio.