A local Oklahoma journalist has called out the sheriff of McCurtain County and several other area officials in the southeastern Oklahoma county who are accused of saying they wish they could hang Black people as a form of criminal and capital punishment.
The state’s governor, city mayor and community activists are calling for the resignation of all leaders heard on the taping.
The McCurtain Gazette-News newspaper released the audio recording of the conversation after submitting it to federal authorities.
A writer alleged Sheriff Kevin Clardy, investigator Alicia Manning, District 2 Commissioner Mark Jennings and others were all on the audio talking about possibly killing members of the media, teasing that certain a woman was like barbecue after she died in a fire, and musing that hanging as a tool that should be reinstituted into the justice system.
The members of the media threatened on the audio were Gazette-News reporters Chris and Bruce Willingham.
SIMILAR NEWS: https://atlantablackstar.com/2023/04/15/ill-bury-that-n-r-in-my-fields-police-probe-exposes-very-disturbing-texts-sent-in-personal-chat-among-dozens-of-officers-in-bay-area-citys-black-mayor-not-exempt/
The conversation reportedly was captured after the county’s Board of Commissioners’ March 6 meeting.
The Oklahoman reports that the Gazette-News claims it has the full audio recording and added that the FBI and the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office also have the evidence in their possession.
The Oklahoman also reported that it has obtained parts of the recording but is unable to corroborate that the accused McCurtain County officials are the speakers on the recording.
In addition to the first trio of peace officers and elected officials, District 3 Commissioner Robert Beck, the sheriff’s investigator Alicia Manning, jail administrator Larry Hendrix, and the commissioners’ secretary Heather Carter all reportedly are heard on the taping.
One of the…
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