By: Jose Carranza
FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. (UATV) –The Washington County Democratic Party is hosting an online discussion with democratic women Justice of the Peace.
In the Washington County Courthouse, the quorum court has gathered attention with controversial issues such as the use of the Cares Act Funding and, as this event covers, the muting of members in online Zoom Meetings.
Good Shepherd Lutheran Reverend Clint Schnekloth, organized the event alongside the Washington County Democratic Party.
Schnekloth recently created the Facebook Group Washington County Cares to discuss the use of Cares Act Funds at Washington County.
Because of the Pandemic, quorum court meetings have gone online. Justice’s may still gather at the courthouse where there is limited public attendance, or join using Zoom.
“There has been a history over the last few months of the officers of the quorum court or the staff of the county like Brian Lester, county attorney, actually muting some of these women while they try to speak on the zoom meeting” says Schneckloth
The Washington County Unmuted event was organized and created in order to give the Democratic Women Justice of the Peace a platform to discuss issues. The online Facebook event description claims that “Washington County Democrat JPs are fighting an uphill battle against obstructionism…They’re frequently silenced by county administrators.”
“In one instance, Eva Madison, one of the JP’s made a t-shirt that reads I will not be muted,” Says Schnekloth, “they were doing this to her so much and the only thing she could show that they were doing this was visually.”
Raven Cook will moderate the discussion, Contributing Reporter, for KUAF. The Justice’s of the Peace joining for the event include Suki Highers, Shawndra Washington, Judith Yañez, Eva Madison, and Evelyn Stafford.