Okla. NAACP Calls For Resignations, Investigation In Racist Comments Made In McCurtain Co.

The Oklahoma NAACP is the latest group calling for some McCurtain County officials to resign. This after recordings of alleged racist and threatening remarks were released. 

The Oklahoma State NAACP said not only do they want officials heard making racist comments on audio recordings to resign, they want a full investigation into the Mud Creek area mentioned in the tapes. 

Protestors are calling for change after recordings of county and jail officials allegedly having a conversation about beating and lynching Black people. It also goes on to say Black people have more rights than they do.

“Oh my gosh is this 2023 or is this the 1800s. 1900s what are we doing with this where are we going with this,” Craig Young, Idabel mayor said.

County Commissioner Mark Jennings resigned when the recordings were released, while two County commissioners, Alicia Manning, Larry Hendrix, and Sheriff Clardy are still in their positions.

The sheriff said the audio was illegally obtained and questioned its validity. Idabel Mayor Craig Young said those comments don't represent his community.

“I'm the first Black to work at the city hall here and I was elected by the folks here,” Young said.

He said 18 percent of the people that live in Idabel are Black.

“We don’t need nothing to take us backwards,” Young said.

The President of the Oklahoma State NAACP agrees, but he does think there is something to the Mud Creek area mentioned in the records.

“McCurtain county, Idabel, Hugo and all of those areas. There was a strong hold of confederate people that moved there after the war,” Anthony Douglas said.

The group is calling on Governor Stitt or the community to petition for a multicounty grand jury. They also want the Oklahoma Supreme Court to look into any alleged crimes mentioned in the records. Finally, they're calling on state legislators to defund the county commissioners and sheriff's office until there are resignations.

“What happens if someone comes up hanged in McCurtain County. What are we going to do? They must go now,” Douglas said.