This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, April 8, 2011 - State Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City, admits she uses "provocative language,'' but she reaffirmed Friday that she will not apologize for portraying some African-American politicians as "house slaves'' because they back St. Louis officials in the quest to get local control of the city's police department.
Chappelle-Nadal's comments, made on radio station WGNU this week, have ignited a flurry of criticism from other officials who are African American, with St. Louis Aldermanic President Lewis Reed calling for her step down.
On Friday, state Rep. Jamilah Nasheed -- sponsor of the local-control bill that passed the House -- said she thought that Chappelle-Nadal should "first apologize'' for improperly "using the race card. She was pandering to African Americans on an African-American radio show," the legislator said.
Nasheed, D-St. Louis, then went on to say that the senator "needs professional help. She's mentally unstable....I believe she needs to seek some sort of help, whether it's psychological in nature or something like racial sensitivity training."
Chappelle-Nadal replied that Nasheed's comments are "very funny from someone who had been in jail for knifing a woman."
Nasheed said that the senator was referring to Nasheed's years as a troubled teen, which she has talked about publicly. "That's not even relevant here,'' Nasheed said. "We're talking about her 'slavery' comments and her mental health."
But Chappelle-Nadal said the real issue is the personal attacks that she has weathered because she opposes local control. She pointed to St. Louis Alderman Jeffrey Boyd, who has been featured in pro-local control radio commercials targeting Chappelle-Nadal and former Mayor Freeman Bosley Jr.
Chappelle-Nadal said that 11 state senators are planning to engage in a filibuster, if necessary, to block the local control bill approved by the Missouri House. But she contended that because she is the lone African-American woman in that group, she has been targeted for particularly harsh attacks.
""I will not be bullied," Chappelle-Nadal said, as she accused some of her critics -- notably St. Louis Aldermanic President Lewis Reed -- of engaging in "thug politics."
The senator added that she had greater respect for certain other critics, notably Aldermen Terry Kennedy and Antonio French, who she said have registered their opposition without getting personal. "They have not disrespected me,'' she said.
Chappelle-Nadal said that the back-and-forth is a distraction from her real concern, which she said is Chapter 84 of the Missouri state statutes, which lays out the terms of employment, pay and benefits for St. Louis police officers, as well as insurance-coverage guarantees for the families of officers killed in the line of duty. (Click here to read the senator's recent column on the topic in the St. Louis American.)
"Chapter 84 is key,'' she said. The senator went on to say that no supporters of local control have come to her office to discuss the issue.
However, Chappelle-Nadal said she won't apologize for any of her public comments. In the interview, for example, she repeated her contention that wealthy financier Rex Sinquefield -- a major political player in regional and state politics who supports local control -- is behind much of the current push by City Hall and the issue's prominence during this legislative session.
Chappelle-Nadal cited the $300,000 that Sinquefield has given to state House Speaker Steve Tilley, R-Perryville and a 2012 candidate for lieutenant governor, and the $115,000 that the financier recently gave Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, a Republican expected to run for governor.
"Rex Sinquefield is literally buying politics and politicians,'' she said.
