SACRAMENTO, Calif --- Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson, chair of the California Assembly Democratic Caucus and member of the California Legislative Black Caucus, is demanding a public apology and discipline be taken against Sacramento staff members of the Judicial Council for their depiction of African Americans as inmates, and their malice acts against the transgender community during a costume party in 2016.
“I am deeply disturbed by the reprehensible, racist and poor judgement the Judicial Council displayed at a Halloween party last year” said Asm. Gipson. “For a public policymaking body that is equipped with the responsibility of fair access to the courts, it is highly disappointing that a group of judicial staff members would put down a race simply to win a contest. It is never okay to engage in stereotypical behavior or homophobic mockery, all while distributing offensive photos over a public server for ridicule.
I stand with the NAACP and am calling on the Judicial Council for a sincere public apology and an immediate reprimand of these senseless actions. This is demeaning, discriminatory, and sends the negative message that black people and members of the LGBTQ community are bad people.
Although the damage is done and the seed is planted, and quite possibly for years to come, we will not tolerate bias from a department whose responsibility is that of justice for all. This action will not go unchallenged."
