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A Terrebonne Parish School Board member whose Facebook posting concerning the Confederate flag drew criticism from local civil rights leaders has offered an apology to fellow school board members and others who might have been offended.
But she also expresses resolute refusal to meet with the president of the Terrebonne Parish NAACP to discuss the matter.
“I respect my fellow school board colleagues, and with that being said I apologized to every person I may have offended,” Bonvillain said in a post on her Facebook page.
NAACP President Jerome Boykin, after a meeting of his organization’s board last week, sent a letter to Bonvillain, the District 9 representative, asking to meet with her concerning the July 14 post of a meme. In a later interview, he suggested that she resign.
The meme begins with words that read, “If this symbol represents racism in America …” above a depiction of the rebel flag. Below the flag the words “Then so do these” appear, and below them logos of various organizations including the NAACP, the United Negro College Fund, the Democratic Party and other organizations.
Alleging lack of sensitivity to minority students and teachers, Boykin asked for a meeting.
In her most recent post Bonvillain, who is Native American, said, “I don’t see the need to meet with NAACP President Jerome Boykin, whose job is technically to support me: Vicki Bonvillain, a woman Indian minority.
“Would making me resign cause Mr. Boykin to become a better person? May he follow his dream. I serve a MIGHTY GOD who will NEVER LEAVE me or forsake me. I have the utmost respect for people of every race, however I answer to God not Jerome Boykin!”
Although given ample opportunity to do so, Bonvillain has refused to discuss the matter with reporters.
News reports of the flap indicated at least tacit disapproval of her initial post by some school board members.
The body has made no formal statement on the matter.
Boykin said he found the apology to be hollow if not backed up by a meeting with him.
“I am not surprised that she does not want to meet considering that where she works a rebel flag is flown every day,” Boykin said, referring to Roland’s Mini- Mart, a convenience store on the Bourg-Larose Highway in Bourg. The store’s owner, Roland Henry, is a former Terrebonne Parish school board member. A flag flies on a pole near the store’s gas pumps, alongside a U.S. flag.
“It would be appropriate for her to meet with me about this serious matter,” Boykin said Monday. “If she does not want to meet we plan for this to not be over, Apologizing to school board members doesn’t mean it is finished or over.”
Boykin said a meeting is needed to promote dialogue, and is the only way he can think of to communicate the depth of his feelings and those of others who find defense of the rebel flag offensive, as well as the suggestion that the logos of his organizations and others are racist symbols.
“We need to talk about it, to let her know how people in the community feel about what she said,” Boykin said. “I don’t believe she understands the impact. I have had students ask me why she would say these things.”
Responding to Bonvillain’s suggestion that his organization’s role is to protect her as a person of color, since she is Native American, Boykin said that is true “when she is right.”
Boykin said he has discussed the matter with Thomas Dardar, Principal Chief of the United Houma Nation.
Dardar would not make a public statement on the matter, saying he wishes to wait until the UNH tribal council meets to discuss its position as a group.
Houma attorney Michael Billiot, a member of the tribe who is a Houma attorney, attempted to broker a meeting between Bonvillain and Boykin, has had communication with both Bonvillain and Boykin.
He had attempted to broker a meeting between them but Bonvillain continued to refuse.
As leaders of two minority groups, he said, both Boykin and Bonvillain have much to contribute to the community together in areas where they have common ground.
“They have a lot of common ground, a lot of the same points of view and they should work together and I am sure they would be interested in working together in promoting the issues that are common to both of them,” Billiot said. “Community leaders, especially minority community leaders will find there are a lot of common goals they can fruitfully work together on for the good of all people.”
