Employees of a north Alabama town will soon receive diversity training by an Islamic American civil rights group, Gurley officials said on Friday.
Gurley Mayor Robert Sentell made the decision nearly a week after police Chief Barry Pendergraft was accused by the Alabama chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations of spreading “anti-Muslim bigotry.” The accusation stemmed from Pendergraft’s Facebook posts about bacon-greased bullets last month. The organization asked state and federal authorities to investigate the posts in a statement on Oct. 7. Pendergraft has been the police chief for the town located in Madison County since April 2014.
CAIR-AL Executive Director Khaula Hadeed said the idea of bullets covered in bacon grease refers to “a theme often used by anti-Muslim bigots because they falsely believe Muslims cannot enter heaven if they are shot by such ammunition.”
Sentell started an investigation after being contacted by Al.com. Sentell said the police chief didn’t intend to offend any racial or ethnic group. Pendergraft, a shooting enthusiast, was referring to the lubricant required to reload shell casings, the mayor said.
Although commercial lubricants are available, Sentell said Pendergraft learned about alternative emollients, such as canola oil and bacon grease, online. As proof, Pendergraft shared with Sentell links and screenshots of message boards about recreational shooting.
“I have reviewed them and am I accept his explanation,” Sentell said. “I am also quite satisfied that he meant no offense or ill will by his Facebook posts.”
Sentell contacted Hadeed this week to share what he learned and to discuss solutions. Along with diversity training, both officials agreed to visit a nearby mosque to increase the employees’ understanding of the Muslim faith.
Hadeed said she was pleased by Sentell’s quick response and accepts Pendergraft’s explanation.
“We had a positive discussion in which the mayor’s office agreed that Pendergraft’s posts could cause offense and place minorities in danger,” Hadeed said. “Most people reading the posts viewed them as anti-Muslim hatred, which unfortunately has been a very real issue with very real consequences for the Muslim community.”
Hadeed’s charge to stop anti-Islamic remarks comes from recent attacks against Muslims nationwide. An eight-month FBI investigation into a Kansas militia group led to the arrests of three men who planned to bomb an apartment complex occupied by Somali immigrants, the Associated Press reported. Agents said in a complaint the victims were targeted by the group “based on (it’s) hatred for Muslims, people of Somali descent and immigrants.”
In response to the attack, CAIR’s national office asked state and federal authorities to step up security for mosques and other Islamic institutions.
Hadeed hopes the training in Gurley will prevent future misinterpretations.
“At a time of increased attacks and incidents of hate against Muslims and those perceived to be Muslim nationwide, we believe it is essential that public service staff and officers are adequately trained and are able to serve the community fairly and justly without regard to race, ethnicity, gender, or religion,” Hadeed said. “Sentiments that appear to single out particular communities make us all less safe.”
Sentell and Hadeed are working together to select a date for the training. In the meantime, Sentell warned town employees to be more cautious about what they say on social media.
“I am confident that Pendergraft has been committed and remains committed to serving and protecting the citizens of the city of Gurley in a manner that respects persons of all races and all faiths,” Sentell said. “That is my commitment as well and we look forward to the positive benefits from the training to be offered to them.”