Veteran’s Mic Purposely Cut Off After He Credited Black People For Memorial Day
The mic of a 77-year-old veteran was cut off mid-speech during a menorial day event as he spoke about the role Black Americans had on memorial day.
“Throughout history, there has been a lot of claims about who actually performed the first Memorial Day service,” Kemter explained after his speech. “With this speech, I chose to educate people as to the origin of Memorial Day and why we were celebrating it.”
The Akron Beacon Journal, reports that Army Lt. Col. Barnard Kemter was speaking at the ceremony hosted by the Hudson American Legion Lee-Bishop Post 464 in Ohio. Video of the speech disseminated by Hudson Community Television, shows Kemter’s mic being cut off. However, that did not deter him and he carried on with his speech.
“The ceremony is believed to have included a parade of as many as 10,000 people, including 3,000 African American schoolchildren singing the Union marching song, ‘John Brown’s Body,'” Kemter said in his speech about how freed black people helped commemorate on that day . “They were carrying armfuls of flowers and went to decorate at the graves.”
What was initially thought to a technical problem was soon discovered to be intentional. The event organizers admitted to muting the mic because that portion of his speech on Black history was apparently “not relevant for the program.”
“We asked him to modify his speech, and he chose not to do that,” Cindy Suchan, who is the president of the Hudson American Legion Auxiliary said to theBeacon Journal.
Despite the obstacles, Kemter’s speech had a positive response, but he was disappointed in the event organizers.
“It was well-received.”
“I find it interesting that [the American Legion] … would take it upon themselves to censor my speech and deny me my First Amendment right to [freedom of] speech,” Kemter said. “… This is not the same country I fought for.”
The American Legion of Ohio reported that it is investigating the matter and requesting the resignation of the parties involved.
“The American Legion of Ohio, Commander Roger Friend, has requested the resignation of Post Officers James Garrison and Cindy Suchan of Hudson American Legion Post 464. A full investigation and Charter of this Post are pending with the Department Executive Board.”