DeKalb’s Eugene Walker on loss in court today: Constitutional and civil rights at stake
Here is a response from former DeKalb school board chair Eugene Walker to his loss in federal court today:
By Eugene Walker
I am dismayed but not deterred, following our setback in federal court Monday. I respectfully but wholeheartedly disagree with the judge’s decision, and I plan to continue to seek justice through the court system until this matter with the Governor is resolved. This is why:
I was born in Thomaston, a small town in Upson County Georgia. The indignity of segregation and racism was the backdrop of my youth. I swore at that time that I would stand up for my rights no matter the cost. I have not swayed from the self commitment, and virtually all my adult life has been dedicated to service to my fellow man, with a special dedication to education.
I preface this to explain, again, why I am obligated to engage the governor in the court system. It is morally abhorrent to sit idly by and allow the usurping of the one man one vote rights that has been bought and paid with the blood, sweat and tears of my generation. It is imperative that public servants preserve and protect the constitution and adhere to all laws, including the precept of a citizens’ right to choose their representative government. With the current assault of Section V of the voting rights act and the perpetual gerrymandering to disenfranchise races of people, I am compelled to employ every means available to me to protect citizens’ rights. The governor is using SACS and the State Board of Education as a hammer and chisel to chip away at the progress we have made.
No one on the DeKalb County Board of Education, myself included, has committed a crime or misappropriated, misused or misspent funds entrusted to us. Quite the opposite: We have served with honesty and integrity. In fact, this board under the severe stress by the downturn of the economy has worked tirelessly to provide a quality education to our children with a minimum amount of adverse impact on the homeowners of this county. It has not been easy, and there has not always been a consensus. There is no crime in that, rather it is an inherent ingredient in the democratic process.
I don’t feel the governor is personally attacking me. This is not about Eugene Walker. When I step aside through my own actions or through the wisdom of the electorate, I believe I will ultimately be judged on my legacy as an educator, coach, administrator, state senator, state commissioner, pardon and parole board member, in addition to my role now as a school board member. I believe the greatest gift I can bequeath to the children of this school system at this time is a contemporary lesson on civics, civil liberties and standing up for what is right.
If this unconstitutional act is to stand, then what is next? It will only be a matter of time before another constitutional right will be taken away by another wayward and self-perpetuating politico under the guise of the greater good. Minorities should not feel secure if contrived allegations from anonymous sources with hidden agendas can go to private agencies and to have their civil rights stolen away. This cannot and shall not be allowed to stand.
Leadership calls for tough and sometimes unpopular decisions. Such it is with standing up to the power brokers who seek to systematically erode, divide and conquer the voting strength of partisan and racial minorities. If I lose, so be it. But I cannot and will not go down without a fight on the principles at stake here.
–From Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
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176 comments Add your comment
Maureen Downey
March 4th, 2013
8:54 pm
@To all, This should take you to the ruling.
bootney farnsworth
March 4th, 2013
8:55 pm
@ maureen
you want to know why race keeps being brought up? there you go.
bootney farnsworth
March 4th, 2013
9:00 pm
a whole bunch of you need to get a reality check.
this is not the massive infringement on rights so many are trying to make it out to be.
every segment of government has a removal function for out of control officials.
there is nothing to stop Gene from running again, being elected again, or even challenging
this by forcing a write in campaign to be reinstated.
what the ruling comes down to is the courts agreed an out of control lawbreaker is not
entitled to retain his elected position where he can continue to defraud the taxpayers
bootney farnsworth
March 4th, 2013
9:01 pm
what’s that line from the Jerk….
I was born a poor black child….
William
March 4th, 2013
9:06 pm
It’s not that I’m a crooked, low-life … it’s because I’m black.
LOL ..just GO AWAY!!!… the Lord told me to tell you to GO AWAY!!
Bill & Ed's Excellent Adventure
March 4th, 2013
9:09 pm
You say “This is not about Eugene Walker,” but then you pursue this no-holds-barred legal assault upon SACS and the state, when these two entities seems to be following the only script they know in this sort of scenario. Bob Wilson says the “one thing that’s missing here is due process.” In reality, the only thing here that’s missing is any concern for the students and taxpayers of Dekalb County. Don’t try to pull the wool over our eyes and make Deal out to be the bad guy here. Quit pulling the race card because this was never about race. This is about poor governance, mismanagement of funds, systematic failure to perform duties and dysfunction of historic proportion. Step down. Show some class and walk away.
bootney farnsworth
March 4th, 2013
9:14 pm
lets outline the lies here:
-”respectfully but wholeheartedly disagree”.
respectfully? in a pigs eye
-”It is morally abhorrent to sit idly by”
it is morally abhorrent to line your pockets directly and indirectly through cronyism, nepotism, and intimidation. and Gene didn’t do much sitting
-” I am compelled to employ every means available to me to protect citizens’ rights”
you are not compelled, you are motivated to cover your ass. pity you didn’t put that energy into getting DeKalb students the education they deserve.
-”No one on the DeKalb County Board of Education, myself included, has committed a crime or misappropriated, misused or misspent funds entrusted to us. Quite the opposite: We have served with honesty and integrity”
big lie time. tell it enough, it sticks. somewhere a bull just pooed itself to death
-”This is not about Eugene Walker”
this is completely about Gene the Machine, or you would have fought this quietly without race baiting
-”, I believe I will ultimately be judged on my legacy as an educator”
this may actually be true. and karma is a bitch
-”I believe the greatest gift I can bequeath to the children of this school system at this time is a contemporary lesson on civics,”
the greatest gift would be your resignation. kinda reminds me of the show Chicago and the song about being good to mama
bootney farnsworth
March 4th, 2013
9:22 pm
if I follow Gene the machine’s comments correctly, in his world it is a violation of civil rights to hold a black person accountable for their misdeeds.
Randy Rand
March 4th, 2013
9:23 pm
Clearly the Federal Court smacks down the Walker and Wilson’s idea of a “political lynching” and rules that SACS provided a report containing specific allegations of conduct that violates applicable standards and polices. And SACS did so in such a way that: “an ordinary person exercising common sense can sufficiently understand” the allegations. Which parts do you think the DCSB is missing? Having or exercising common sense.ur comments here
Grumpy Dad
March 4th, 2013
9:24 pm
Here is an article that appeared in 2004 about Eugene Walker and the state paying $190,000 to defend a sexual harassment suit brought against him. He is not going away.
http://www.accessnorthga.com/detail.php?n=165732
my2cents
March 4th, 2013
9:38 pm
Eugene, two words: career coach.
Sonny
March 4th, 2013
9:39 pm
Fulton School Board not much better. Look at proposed HB 380 and their effort to take over local pension. Done in stealth mode to keep retirees in the dark.
Randy Rand
March 4th, 2013
9:41 pm
In the ruling the Federal Judge also decided that the Walker named “Kangaroo Court“ is more than an adequate venue for Dr. Eugene Walker and the Dekalb County School Board.
Mary Smith
March 4th, 2013
9:54 pm
Just leave, Eugene!
James
March 4th, 2013
10:01 pm
Dr. King would he horrified by Dr. Walker.
He has been judged by the depth of his character and he is instead begging to be judged by the color of his skin.
Shameful.
Mandella1099
March 4th, 2013
10:31 pm
@ Atlanta Media Guy
Every post you write deals with a right-sized “Palace,” so I think that it is now time for you to come clean. Which position were you working in at the DCSD central office and which Superintendent fired you? That has to be the only reason for your broken record postings. I think that perhaps the tech guy you also enjoy posting about non-stop must have taken your position.
Its getting OLD – move on to a new position. Perhaps you would like to take a position that the first rear-end out the door of the Palace should be your lovable Saint Nancy the Jester?
teach one
March 4th, 2013
10:51 pm
Start penny pinching palace employees…can you say downsize??
Charles Douglas Edwards
March 4th, 2013
11:00 pm
WE BELIEVE THAT IT IS WRONG AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL TO VOID THE WILL AND VOTES OF THE CITIZENS OF DEKALB COUNTY !!!
Weyman C. Wannamaker Jr.
March 4th, 2013
11:37 pm
“With the current assault of Section V of the voting rights act and the perpetual gerrymandering to disenfranchise races of people, I am compelled to employ every means available to me to protect citizens’ rights.”
Invoking other battles has no bearing on this one. No gerrymandering is involved and how about protecting the citizen’s rights to allow their children to receive diplomas that are worth more than the paper they are printed on.
lbrad
March 5th, 2013
12:04 am
Don’t knowbody wants to go through all of that. Just Go !! And let the District get back on was is most important the childrens..
Ronin
March 5th, 2013
12:11 am
This is literally one of the most “interesting” media articles I’ve read in the last six months.
While another “gang of six” is determined to maintain business and politics as usual. After a very thorough review and intense scrutiny, the Governor has the wisdom to intervene on behalf of almost 100,000 public school children.
If Mr. Walker and the other members, now removed by the court, spent as much time doing their job as trying to protect it, maybe Dekalb County Public Schools would be in the top percentile of Georgia Public schools.
The needs of the many, outweigh the needs of the one, or in this case, the six.
The ball is in know in the court of the Governor. Find six motivated can do team players, maybe six retired Army Rangers….
Cat lover 1
March 5th, 2013
12:15 am
You say you have not done anything illegal but you actually have. Remember when you said you would stop paying into the teacher’s retirement funds for a year? It has been at least 4 years now and that is illegal. The school employees that I know told me when it happened and I found out for myself that is illegal.
Ronin
March 5th, 2013
12:16 am
eghhhh, “is now”
SouthsidenowNorthside
March 5th, 2013
12:34 am
Eugene – Fight on using your cash you now want the TP’s of Dekalb to fund your warchest, for the sake the children go away you had a great run in public life.You were a part of a team that failed!
Witnessweeine
March 5th, 2013
12:49 am
Wake up people and see what’s happening in Georgia. Why have a constitution if we are not going to abide by it. What happened to RECALL? SACS and the Chamber of Commerce are to political to be involved in education. They have to much power and really not concerned about the children as they claim to be. Their goal is to remove any board members certain community leaders deem unfit,
Parents there are other accrediting agencies and having SACS does not make your children more academically secure. Dr. Walker is right and he is not playing a race card. If so, why does SACS only target majority minority boards? Clayton, Sumter, Warren, Doughtery, Randolph, etc. Mureen, please check these out and see how they doing after the assassinations by SACS and the Chamber.
FIGHT DR. WALKER! FIGHT!
Atlanta Media Guy
March 5th, 2013
12:50 am
@mandella Never worked for DCSS a day in my life. However, I am a Volunteer at my kids schools here in DeKalb. Seen first hand the lies and deceit of a few former Palace guards, when we tried to save a school from closing. But with volunteering, I see great stuff going on in the schools. The teachers and other school house employees are making the difference, despite the budget being balanced on the teachers backs year in and year out.
My wife and I focus our energy at the schools, the teachers need our help. My wife and I have lived in DeKalb for 25 years and like our friend Viola Davis, we want to make sure our government school leaders are held accountable, when spending a billion dollars a year of OUR money.
WOW!
March 5th, 2013
1:31 am
Dr. Walker,
As a mother of a young black male, may I offer you my feelings and thoughts? Your current civil rights fight making it a racial issue lacks relevancy in the year 2013. All children of color and socioeconomic means have access to a public education and schools that are not separate and unequal. Let me humbly offer you another view in this civil rights fight you are creating, the children of color all now have access, but are losing the fight in staying in the game called education, and by not being competitive in academics locally, nationally and internationally. That is the civil rights fight you, Ms. Woods and the NAACP ought to be waging, providing all the children with an education that prepares them to compete in the world arena academically and professionally. More money is being spent on lawyers than in the classroom, when can that make sense?.
My question to you, Dr. Walker, Ms. Wood and the NAACP is, why were you not marching in the streets in DeKalb County to motivate students to be respectful, disciplined, turn up for classes, graduate high school and make an effort to excel at the education they all now have access to?
Please do not continue this fight using taxpayers’ funds to fight a war that is not relevant in 2013, just because of a commitment you made to yourself, so this only about GENE WALKER, not the 100,000 children of DeKalb County,
By all means pursue due process to protect your voting rights and the constitutionality of the governor’s actions, but please start writing those checks to those attorneys or get the DeKalb County NAACP to help with the legal bills,
Markooo
March 5th, 2013
5:33 am
Walker appears to be the racist. It seems implied in his response that any individual component enough to be appointed by Deal and his committee must be of some other race than his (Walker’s). That is sad.
Usmc
March 5th, 2013
5:40 am
How ironic that Mr. walker Uses the TIRED old excuse that he was raised in a town where he says “the indignity of segregation and racism were the backdrop of my youth” yet Mr. Walker perpetuates racism seemingly in all endeavors of his life.
Mr. Walker, look in the mirror. You, sir, are the RACIST.
Let go of your Hatred of people who look different than you.
Diversity doesn’t just mean BLACK.
God bless you sir. There is life after the DCSB. MOVE ON.
agent
March 5th, 2013
5:42 am
You know I gotta tell you, this is one person that I wish I could see a news report on about being run over or having a tree fall on him. He’s so stupid that he can’t see how much of an arse he is. It is truly amazing that he can sit there with a straight face and say he didn’t do anything wrong. He’s a true politician.
mountain man
March 5th, 2013
6:15 am
“My question to you, Dr. Walker, Ms. Wood and the NAACP is, why were you not marching in the streets in DeKalb County to motivate students to be respectful, disciplined, turn up for classes, graduate high school and make an effort to excel at the education they all now have access to? ”
Hear, Hear! One of the best posts I have ever seen on this blog! Congratulations! The truth is finally spoken!
Private Citizen
March 5th, 2013
6:37 am
A pun regarding paid legal fees and outside counsel: Mr. Walker is guaranteed an adequate defense.
ColonelJack
March 5th, 2013
6:50 am
@Charles Douglas Edwards … You may indeed believe that it is wrong and unconstitutional. And, from many perspectives, it may indeed be so.
But a Federal judge disagrees with you.
And at the moment, it’s HIS opinion that matters.
support public schools
March 5th, 2013
7:06 am
Mr. Walker- your response has confirmed to all of us that you were NEVER about the kids. Only about you wanting power. You are representing no one but yourself.
So sad. Go with grace-isn’t that what God would recommend?
mountain man
March 5th, 2013
7:08 am
“if I follow Gene the machine’s comments correctly, in his world it is a violation of civil rights to hold a black person accountable for their misdeeds.”
Of course it is! Look at O. J. Simpson. If he had been white, he would have been convicted immediately and sentenced to death. The race card only applies to blacks. If a black BOE shoots down a qualified white Superintendent, then that is just their right. If a white BOE shoots down a qualified black superintendent, it is racism.
Fun Size
March 5th, 2013
7:18 am
This guy will NEVER leave because he is truly delusional…Dr Walker – for the sake of DeKalb Schools, show some character & abide by the judge’s ruling. In other words, just GO ALREADY!!!!!
Dianna
March 5th, 2013
7:18 am
The school board members should be ashamed of their behaiors. They should run and hide for the way they conducted their school board issues. The clearly are not the best stewards for the best interests of the children of DeKalb County.
Shame on you all!
Dowager
March 5th, 2013
7:27 am
Holding a special election would have been the proper course of action. The dismissed board members could run against other candidates, and there could be no claim of discrimination at the outcome.
fondu
March 5th, 2013
7:30 am
Race has always been Mr. Walkers agenda.
Mountain Man
March 5th, 2013
7:38 am
“I swore at that time that I would stand up for my rights no matter the cost.”
As long as that cost is being borne by the children of Dekalb county, or taxpayers of Dekalb County. Let’s see how much cost he is willing to bear if it has to come from his own pocket.
John Friedricks
March 5th, 2013
7:39 am
I have posted this before but it warrants repeating. Easy solution to Gene. Poor a bucket of water on him and he will go away screaming, “I’m melting!”
Maude
March 5th, 2013
7:46 am
Dr. Walker you are playing the race card I just have one question. What is the race of the majority of the 99K children you are hurting??
Vira
March 5th, 2013
7:50 am
He should add world-class clown to his resume. What about the right to compulsory education that the majority of black students are being denied by the venerable Dr? Civil rights for this clown are all about him and his paycheck and status, not about the thousands of kids in South DeKalb who are not being taught enough to achieve basic literacy and numeracy. The secret is that all these “civil rights” leaders can only remain in power while they keep their own people down.
james
March 5th, 2013
8:04 am
dear mr. walker, where you were born and the indignities of racism you suffered as a child are not jermaine to the situation. so cry me a river, you were replaced because and the other refused to put the interests of the children ahead of your personal interests and those who benefitted from you being on the board (the “hook-ups” that were given). i personally am sick and tired everytime a decision is made its because of racism….it is not…this decision was not based on race, if it was then you would not have been appointed at all or you would have immediately been removed “because you are black” you were given an opportunity by those who voted for you to improve the school system and provide a quality EDUCATION to the children living in the county….YOU FAILED!!!!!!! so now you are removed and you attempt to pull the race card. sir, your self-serving efforts diminish the past injustices against black who were persecuted only because of their skin color for merely wanting nothing more than aan opportunity to achieve the same quality of life, the rights to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness the same as any other citizen. please do yourself and everyone else a favor and be a man and just go away, take time to reflect upon your selfishness due to thinking only about yourself and attempt to find out where your mindset went wrong and your character and moral compass was corrupted….the last thing you should be doing is spending hard earned taxpayer dollars filing lawsuits claiming discrimination, racism, and unfairness when you had every opportunity to run the school district for the benefit of the children and not you and you self interests, and interests of your friends and “homey’s”
Bobby
March 5th, 2013
8:05 am
Eugene Walker has no desires to advance minority students in Dekalb County. He only seeks what is in his best interest. No doubt Dr. King is spinning in his grave at the ilks of Mr. Walker (he does not deserve to be referred to by his Ph.d title). Or maybe “Dr.” Walker just doesn’t want other black students to rise to his level of education.
Walker has had multiple sexual harassment lawsuits filed against him
March 5th, 2013
8:06 am
Apparently he’s used to having the state pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in settlement and legal fees for him…
http://www.accessnorthga.com/detail.php?n=165732
“But she added, “The fact that the previous lawsuit was settled for $190,000 suggests that the state was concerned enough to offer six figures, which is more than nuisance value.”
The latest case was filed in 2002 in Fulton County State Court by Patricia Alexander, who claims that soon after she went to work for Walker at the parole board he “began making sexual innuendo and suggestive comments.”
The lawsuit claims the comments included “using sexually oriented and obscene language, commenting on the sexual activities and sexual preferences of other men and women, discussing his own sexual preferences, making inappropriate displays of affection and making offensive remarks concerning plaintiff’s anatomy and the anatomy of other women.”
….The secretary’s attorneys almost certainly “would argue that keeping someone with this kind of pattern of behavior indicates more fault on the part of the state, which should be relevant in the damage determination,” she said.”
Pardon My Blog
March 5th, 2013
8:10 am
Eugene, pursue this all you want but at your expense. You have had due process, several years in fact, to do the right thing but all you have been concerned about is enriching yourself and your family and friends. Do you really want the public to know all you have done? Would a criminal investigation be more to your liking?
Be a man, step down. I encourage you to read the comment from @WOW 1:31a.m. And @Vira – you are on target with the statement: “The secret is that all these “civil rights” leaders can only remain in power while they keep their own people down.”
ShooShee
March 5th, 2013
8:10 am
@Bernie: It doesn’t really appear that you are “torn” on this issue.
Ed. Pro
March 5th, 2013
8:10 am
Maureen,
I noticed in the documents that the AJC has online that Eugene Walker is listed in the court filing as a member of the Dekalb BOE as well as Chairman of the Board. The document lists the date of filing with the Federal Court as Friday March 1, 2013. Mr. Walker resigned as Chairman a couple of weeks ago. How can he get away with filing an official document with the Court representing himself as Chairman of the Board when we all know that to be a lie. I would appreciate it if you could clarify how he was allowed to get away with this.
scot
March 5th, 2013
8:16 am
“I swore at that time that I would stand up for my rights no matter the cost.”
….no matter the cost to the children of Dekalb.
To anyone inclined to be empathetic to Dr Walker’s playing of the race card, remind yourself this one cold hard fact: the students most in need in Dekalb, the ones who most rely on the school system to be an ally in lifting them out of tough circumstances and on a path to a life with more economic freedom and security, are the ones most screwed by “Dr” Walker’s mismanagement and self serving nature.
This is indeed about race, by only by Eugene (along with Sarah Copelin-Wood) playing that card.