Carr doubles down as calls, emails demand his resignation

Several people called asking for Sullivan County Commissioner Joe Carr to resign or be disciplined, concerning comments made about Juneteenth, a Kingsport Times News public records request shows.Carr, though, said he would not back down from comments he made three weeks ago during a County Commission meeting, saying that he would not vote on a resolution to make Juneteenth a county holiday because it is a "woke holiday.""It is unacceptable, but not unexpected, that extremists would make threats against public servants, even ones with young children," Carr said in a statement. "The Sullivan County Commission will not be intimidated by radical thugs who would turn our community into an anarchist hellhole like Portland."The Times News made a public records request to obtain email and telephone records that came into Sullivan County Mayor Richard Venables office regarding the Juneteenth Sullivan County Commission vote during its regularly scheduled business meeting on May 18.A resolution was brought up during the meeting to officially adopt Juneteenth as a county holiday, since it is a national and state holiday.Carr voiced opposition, though, alluding to recent events in Nashville that led to protests and the ouster of two state legislators.Juneteenth was established as a national holiday two years ago.The holiday, celebrated on June 19, commemorates the emancipation of African-Americans. It coincides with the day that U.S. Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and declared all slaves free. It was the last standout of slavery in the South after the Civil War.The commission approved making Juneteenth a county holiday in a 17-4 vote. Carr and County Commissioner Hershel Glover, Joe McMurray and Jessica Means voted no.The records the Times News received included three emails and five phone calls. Out of the five phone calls, four were from out-of-state phone numbers.THE BLOWBACKThose voicing frustration in the records demanded that Carr be disciplined, and the majority called his comments racist. The one caller from a 423 area code said he supported all four who voted against the resolution."We support Mr. Joe Carr, Hershel Glover, Joe McMurray and Jessica Means in their opposition to Juneteenth as a Sullivan County holiday," the caller said.But others disagreed. One person who emailed said she was looking for property in Sullivan County, but was "thrown off" by Carr's comments."The fact he went to a public hearing and stated that Juneteenth is 'woke' ( not used in its original and correct matter and instead used as a cover for racism) and used the term 'these people' is disgusting," the email read. "It's a blemish on your community. It's very disappointing."Another email states the person lived in Means district and was "blocked" from her Facebook."I do believe it is my First Amendment right to be able to comment on my commissioners public Facebook page used as part of her service as commissioner," the email read.Another person who emailed said Carr would have a different perspective if he were Black."Commissioner Joe Carr is a real fool for calling Juneteenth a 'woke' holiday," the email stated. "He is the type of backwards redneck that gives the County and Tennessee a bad name. Why can't people just be kind and respectful of each other? If he were a Black person he'd understand the importance of Juneteenth to the Black race in this country. Shame on him."HUMAN IMPACTOne commissioner said there is a human element to what happened after the vote.Means said she never blocked anyone from her social media pages."I had to delete all my social media because of all the treats and hate that was going on," she said.She said she has three children and she was worried about the impact on them."I thought that was the appropriate thing to do at that time," she said.Means said she is not sure when or if she will bring back her social media pages. She said her "no" vote was because she was trying to find more answers."I had many more questions about what was going on," she said. "But people just jumped to assumptions."Means said anyone can call her at anytime. She said she's open to speaking about any of her votes."People can call me at any time," she said. "I'm not some faraway, out-of-touch person."