County Democrats Say They’re Sorry For Slur

Spokane County Democrats finally shed their public relations tumor Wednesday with a broad apology for past racial slurs.

The orchestrated apology at the Ridpath Hotel also helped settle a civil rights lawsuit against the party.

With the words, “I, Jimmy Sirmans, extend an overdue apology” the county chairman said what many party members grumble should have been said 2 1/2 years ago.

Sirmans’ apology in front of a racially diverse crowd of 50 people was directed to the five Democrats who sued the party “and to all other communities of color.”

Before he was done, Sirmans apologized on behalf of party officials, to almost everyone, Democrats and the community at large.

The apology defuses a federal lawsuit from the Japanese-American Citizens League and five other party activists - including a Native American, African American and a Caucasian - who say party leaders mistreated them.

As part of the settlement, county Democrats created an internal grievance procedure for civil rights complaints, and committed to an affirmative action plan.

“What began as a racial slur incident has culminated in a process which allows the Democratic Party to be more inclusive toward participation by people of color in its political affairs,” said Denny Yasuhara, president of the Japanese-American Citizens League.

The controversy began when a party official referred to the Hong Kong owners of the Davenport Hotel as “chinks.”

News of the slur cost Spokane the state Democratic convention last year. Party leaders decided the racism allegations were poisonous enough to warrant moving the function to Richland.

, DataTimes