Community Members Speak Out in Response to White House’ Use of Disgusting Slur in Thanksgiving Message
Poloncarz, Cammarata Join Leaders of Local Disability Advocate Agencies in Rebuke
ERIE COUNTY, NY— Recent boorish social media behavior emanating from the White House has drawn rebukes from advocates for the disabled nationwide and here in Erie County, all responding to official social media messages posted on Thanksgiving that called the Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, the “r-word.” The term was once used medically to describe people with mental disabilities, but over time, it was used as a stigmatizing and bullying phrase. In recent decades advocates have campaigned to end the use of the word, and while it has been becoming decreasingly used gradually, Thursday’s official White House usage of the word was widely noticed and criticized.
“What a sad state of affairs in America, when the President of the United States feels comfortable to casually and cruelly mock someone by using the r-word. It’s despicable, it’s low, it’s another sign of his severely atrophied vocabulary, but sadly we have seen that there is no bottom with this individual, no new depth that he will not sink to,” said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz. “We as a community are better than that, more compassionate and caring, and we will not stand idly by and let others be bullied and devalued. We proudly stand shoulder to shoulder against that type of ignorance and hate and all those who espouse it, today and every day.”
“Annually and for the past decade plus the Erie County disability community, advocates, and allies gather on the first Wednesday in March to celebrate ‘Spread the Word to End the Word’ to remind people about the importance of the language they use and how unacceptable and demeaning the R Word is, especially for people with a developmental disability,” added Frank Cammarata III, Executive Director of the Erie County Office for People With Disabilities. “I would remind our leaders to understand the influence they have on our community and be cognizant of the words they chose. I would also ask them to value and honor all people. We hope our annual event spreads awareness but obviously we have a lot more work to do.”
Poloncarz and Cammarata were joined in condemning the White House’ callous remarks by representatives from the Center for Self Advocacy, OPWDD, the Spina Bifida Association, Unique Theater, People, Inc., and SAANYS.
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