Attorney tells NAACP, district that Regan must resign

The Press has received copies of two letters from Coeur d'Alene attorney Steve Bell, one asking the NAACP to investigate School Board Member Brent Regan and the other, demanding his resignation from the district.

Here are the letters:

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NAACP

Box l8968

Spokane, Wa, 99228 0968

Attn. Mrs. V. Anne Smith

re: racial remark by Cda School board Trustee Regan

I am asking that you launch an investigation for a civil rights violation by remarks made by school trustee member Regan.

At a public forum with over l00 people present, including legislators, he made a comment that people can't figure out what an assault weapon is “it's just BLACK and it LOOKS SCARY”, to which his wife then said “WELL, SO IS OBAMA”

Once again North Idaho racism is alive and well and thriving in North Idaho.

Regan then digs his hole even deeper by saying that all of this was a “humorous anecdote”. There is nothing humorous about any events where someone is discriminated against.

Regan then had the audacity to say that it NEVER occurred to him that this was a racial slur until someone of a different race than his, called him up and explained what its liked to be discriminated against..

Prejudice and racism is a learned behavior. Children are not born with this---they learn it from others.

Regan is setting a terrible example for the l0,000 school children of our district.

Our school district has an obligation to teach its children about respect for all races, and in particular, respect for the President of our country.

I have lived here for over 40 years. Long after the demise of Richard Butler, many people in this community still discriminate because of race. Coeur d'alene also has a reputation for hiding things under the rug, and not taking action when it needs to be taken. Our own Human Relations group has taken a patsy position, and they have NOT requested that Regan resign.

Regan needs to resign immediately. I have requested a Regan resignation by letter to our school district. I ask that you investigate this matter, and take appropriate action, including a demand that Regan immediately resign. Politics and the “good old boy system” should not let Regan or our school district tolerate this disgusting public racist behavior.

Sincerely,

Steve Bell, attorney

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Coeur d'alene School District

attn. Superintendent Hazel Bauman

re: Brent Regan

Thanks to your trustee Regan, racism is once again, alive and well in Cda, Idaho. In front of l00 people and legislators he made the comment about gun control and that people couldn't figure out what an assault weapon was and “its black and looks scary” To which his wife replied, “Well, so is Obama”

When confronted with the prejudiced nature of these comments, Regan digs his hole even deeper and says “it was a humorous anecdote”. To those who are discriminated because of color, do they consider such comments humorous. He goes on and says that it never occurred to him that the comments could be construed as racist. One of your third graders could figure out the racist nature of that comment.

You were here and saw the national damage that this community suffered at the hands of Richard Butler. Racial minorities were intimidated by him. Whenever I traveled, I was confronted with the black eye North Idaho received. The reality is that many people in this community still discriminate because of race. If your district is not aware of this prejudice you are blind.

I had the privilege of speaking to 20 very young people at the KROC recently. I explained that we must treat all people equally. They did not understand this because they already treat people equally.

Prejudice and racism is a taught and learned behavior.

Your school has a duty to teach people respect for all races. You also have a duty to teach respect for our President where Regan and racist wife, obviously have none. This is the example from above, that you set for your students---they read the papers.

You now have someone at the top of your education system saying he had no idea what was going on until someone called him and explained. This is the example that will trickle down to your students in the event Regan remains as a trustee.

I am contacting the NAACP in Spokane to give all details of this incident. I do this because having lived here for years, I know that lots of things get quietly pushed under the rug here for political reasons. To leave Regan in, you are endorsing his disgusting public racist behavior. I am calling for the immediate resignation of Regan and I have many people behind me. I await your earliest response.

Sincerely yours,

Steve Bell