A Facebook post by officers in the Selmer Police Department and a McNairy County Sheriff’s Department is being viewed as racist by the Tennessee State Conference NAACP.

“This morning, we have come before you to call attention to and protest racist, discriminatory remarks and Facebook post by Selmer Police officer Ronnie Pilkington, and McNairy County deputy Mike Shipman, who ‘liked’ a racist post shared by Bryan Petty, a court appointed lawyer,” said Gloria Sweet-Love, “The McNairy County Brach NAACP president, Mr. Gary Morrison, Selmer mayor John Smith and Police Chief Neil Burkes met to discuss officer Ronnie Pilkington’s Facebook post that stated “colored people are like human weeds and are to be exterminated.””

Sweet-Love, the president of the Tennessee State Conference NAACP, made her comments during a press conference at Jackson City Hall, Wednesday.

“He (Pilkington) said he was not a racist and he shared the post to alert black people about abortion,” Sweet-Love said, “When asked why nothing in the post said anything about abortion – he had no answer.

“It is our belief that a written reprimand and a two-day suspension simply a slap on the hand for an egregious statement that people of color should be exterminated like weeds.”

Sweet-Love said the press conference was held in Jackson, because it was a regional issue.

“In a racially charged atmosphere where people of color are being assaulted, choked and shot dead by officers across the United States, it puts all citizens of color on edge to know that an officer with the McNairy County Sheriff’s Department and Selmer Police officer are commenting, sharing and “liking” social media posts “on how to get rid of and exterminate people of color,” Sweet-Love said.

Harrell Carter said the learning process continues in a country where racism has reared its head too many times.

“This is about the whole community,” said Carter, who is president of the NAACP Jackson Chapter, “People make mistakes, but this is a mistake that has been continuously ongoing.

“The reason why those officers felt safe in putting this on their Facebook page – which is public – they did not feel any repercussions. It’s obvious the failure is within that city (Selmer) and that county (McNairy).”

(PHOTO: Gloria Sweet-Love, president of the Tennessee State Conference NAACP, speaks during a press conference at Jackson City Hall, Wednesday)
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