Last week Berea City Council member Jerry Little’s Facebook account shared a post mocking the women accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanuagh of sexual misconduct. The original post was deleted but it still made rounds among Berea’s Facebook community. Jerry Little issued an apology saying that it was his wife who made the post.
The public comments section of the council meeting had people defending and criticizing Councilor Little. Some speakers said that Little’s apology was sincere and that the people who are criticizing Little are worse. Another said that Berea as a whole is better than this and that social media is to blame for the outrage. One man brought up current and past scandals in the Democratic Party, saying that people who support the Democratic Party while criticizing Little are hypocrites.
Others said that the post shared by Little’s Facebook page were misogynistic and bullying. Some shared stories of past domestic abuse and sexual harassment they experienced in the past saying that the post made a joke of what they experienced. A teacher pointed out that if she had shared what Little’s Facebook page had, she would have been fired. At one point councilor Ronnie Terrill criticized a speaker condemning Jerry Little for turning away when another speaker was defending Little. Some in the crowd shouted “Shame on you!” to Terrill after he criticized the man. The man said he turned away to belch. Another man said that the council should attend diversity training.
The Berea Human Rights Commission stated that the post shared on Little’s page was unacceptable for a government official to share and that it degrades woman.
Another man pointed out that Berea’s Code of Conduct for government officials has not been updated in over one hundred years and that it should be changed to match the modern world.
The councilors also made statements on the issue. Cora Jane Wilson said that it was a mistake to share the post but defended Jerry by saying that she has known him for decades and that she felt his apology was sincere and that Jerry Little would not stand for domestic or sexual abuse. Jim Davis made the comment that no one in Berea should be afraid to seek help or go to the police in an abusive situation. David Rowlette said that no man is perfect and that we should get off social media and volunteer in our community. Tom Schultz agreed with the idea of the council receiving diversity training.
October has been declared roller skating month in Berea. Berea will also be submitting the name of one veteran a month to the Kentucky Veteran’s Hall of Fame.
Johnson road will also be shut down for a few days starting Monday for maintenance. The decision to close it down this Monday was to coincide Madison County Schools fall break.
Lastly sixteen delegates will be leaving for Berea’s Japanese sister city this Monday.
