The censorship of Ward 1 Commissioner Judd Blevins was approved for tabling on Tuesday night during the City of Enid Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting, passing by a vote of 7 to 0.
Judd Blevins was given the floor to speak upon the matter at hand.
“I agree with the resolution’s firm rejection of racism and publicly disavow any group or individual that would promote bigotry or the belief that one race is superior to another. I do, however, think that this resolution is reckless for the following reasons: Mr. Mayor, I disagree and reject the notion that any of my actions have caused discontent among the residents of our community. You are accusing me of being contentious yet have been so far unwilling to accept my statements on this matter . . . Mister Mayor, my fellow commissioners, this resolution makes it clear that if it passed, a person is to be condemned for who they were, and not who they are.”
Blevins would continue to say, “The law of our land provides for one system of government, a constitutional republic and that is what I support; that is what I defended in the United States Marine Corps, and to be clear, I am opposed to all forms of racial hatred, racial discrimination and any form of government that would suppress the rights that are enshrined to us in our constitution.”
Ward 6 Commissioner Scott Orr gave a statement on the notion to censor Blevins.
Orr stated “I do not agree with the ideology that Commissioner Blevins was been associated with. The reasons I’m not going to support this is first, the timing of this resolution is puzzling; and when I try to put the pieces together, they just don’t all fit, I’ve heard so many different stories, I don’t even know what the truth is anymore. Second, based on events since our last meeting, I cannot help but believe this is being driven by eagle, by ego, bullheadedness, emotions, and anger. The drama that has unfolded in the last 10 days can be described to akin to a high school drama.”
Ward 2 commissioner Derwin Norwood gave a passion-filled speech about the matter at hand; in favor of Blevins.
“Hearing the rhetoric and hearing the hatred that was read, that was pretty rough. Going back to slavery, civil rights movement, all the way up till today . . . When I got onto this commission, I wanted to see Enid as a light, a beacon of light.”
He went on to say, “You all can walk away from me, shut doors on me, but for God I love and God I die . . . You must be willing to show mercy to obtain it . . . I came to him (Judd Blevins) and I told him, if you disavow, I’ll stand with you but you got to be sincere. When you’re racist and you don’t like me because I’m black, I feel it. You can try to disguise it, I smell it; because you’ve never been me. You’ve never been told that you are overly qualified because you have a better education than I do. Have you ever been told we’re going to stop you from succeeding? So that we can continue to rule and have governance over people that we feel like are no better or least than us? You don’t know what it feels like to be black.”
After his statement, Norwood said “And another thing before we quit. Can you (Blevins) stand up?” Derwin stood up, and Blevins followed suit. Norwood asked, “Do you love me?”
Blevins responded with “Yes I do.”
They shook hands and embraced while the public applauded and cheered.
More than 15 public commentators came up to leave their comments on the censorship. The majority expressed their distrust of Blevins being on the council. However, multiple commentators gave the opinion that what he did in the past is in the past, and a man can change.
