Thomasville council votes to dissolve multicultural committee
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A multicultural committee formed in 2012 was recently dissolved by the city of Thomasville. The unanimous vote by the council cited “over the past several years, the multicultural committee has deviated from the primary mission of promoting and embracing all of the community's cultures and has expressed interest in focusing on a more narrowly tailored group of cultures,” and in a resolution to dissolve the group.
The agenda item was met with public requests to continue the group, including former committee member JacQuez Johnson. “At a time when mothers and grandmothers are being gunned down in grocery stores. When our Asian American brothers and sisters are still being targeted all across this country due to misinformation. When young black and brown people are being targeted and harassed by our own TPD (Thomasville Police Department). If there has ever been a time when we need for more multiculturalism and community understanding that time is now!” Johnson wrote in a statement. “The work of multiculturalism is more than just putting on one festival a year. It’s about truly helping find creative and engaging ways to promote city unity.”
The resolution goes on to state that Thomasville City Council recognizes the importance of the work being done by the current committee members and “desires to allow the committee members to continue their work independently so as not to be bound by the mission set forth by the Thomasville City Council.”
Councilwoman Wendy Sellars echoed those sentiments. “We all felt that they wanted to do good work here in the city. The issue we had is that they had bylaws and policies to govern and direct the committee but they chose not to follow them. The council wanted a multicultural committee to celebrate all cultures in Thomasville. Unfortunately, this was not done. The committee was directed to do one multicultural community event a year and this was not done and no event was organized since 2016,” Sellars wrote.
“The decision to disband this committee was not personal or directed to any member. This decision was made due to the work not being done as directed. The council will make sure that we celebrate and show appreciation for all cultures that make up our community. This work will not be neglected.”
Sellars said the council’s decision included suggesting the committee to start a 501c3 organization “so they could continue in the direction they wanted to go. I personally wish them success.”
Johnson, a former candidate for the Thomasville City Council, challenged the decision on social media. “This new Thomasville City Council has tried to send a bold statement. But we the people are sending an even bigger one that the work of multiculturalism in this city cannot stop and will not stop!” he wrote. “With or without the support of the Thomasville City Council but come next November don’t be fooled by folks who just talk about it.”
