KANSAS CITY, Mo. -
The Concerned Clergy Coalition of Kansas City is upset with Mayor Mark Funkhouser and City Council members for getting rid of City Manager Wayne Cauthen. The group said it's not what was done, but how it was done.
Funkhouser said Cauthen was shown the door last week because the mayor wanted to take the city in another direction.
The Concerned Clergy Coalition and members of the community gathered at Zion Grove Missionary Baptist Church to bash council members and Funkhouser when they said Cauthen was treated like a "criminal."
"It was an immoral, dehumanizing, degrading way that it happened to have detectives and the chief security to escort the man out," Rev. Wallace Hartsfield said.
While Rev. Hartsfield said the mayor has the right to get rid of employees, but he said the way it was handled was not right.
The three African-American council members were not aware of the dealings to remove Cauthen until minutes before the vote was taken and the coalition would like to know why council members who supported Cauthen changed their view of him.
They also want the mayor to apologize.
"Before that vote was taken, the lack of concern from the people should not and will not be tolerated," Rev. Michael Brooks said. "The people should have at least had their voices heard on such a serious matter."
The coalition said the employees in the City Manager's office who were also let go should retain their jobs.
"This action will not be forgotten and this issue will remain on the faces and on the minds and in the hearts of our voting citizens up until the next election," Rev. Brooks said.
The Concerned Clergy Coalition hopes the mayor and City Council members address their concerns during the next City Council meeting.
Funkhouser said Cauthen was shown the door last week because the mayor wanted to take the city in another direction.
The Concerned Clergy Coalition and members of the community gathered at Zion Grove Missionary Baptist Church to bash council members and Funkhouser when they said Cauthen was treated like a "criminal."
"It was an immoral, dehumanizing, degrading way that it happened to have detectives and the chief security to escort the man out," Rev. Wallace Hartsfield said.
While Rev. Hartsfield said the mayor has the right to get rid of employees, but he said the way it was handled was not right.
The three African-American council members were not aware of the dealings to remove Cauthen until minutes before the vote was taken and the coalition would like to know why council members who supported Cauthen changed their view of him.
They also want the mayor to apologize.
"Before that vote was taken, the lack of concern from the people should not and will not be tolerated," Rev. Michael Brooks said. "The people should have at least had their voices heard on such a serious matter."
The coalition said the employees in the City Manager's office who were also let go should retain their jobs.
"This action will not be forgotten and this issue will remain on the faces and on the minds and in the hearts of our voting citizens up until the next election," Rev. Brooks said.
The Concerned Clergy Coalition hopes the mayor and City Council members address their concerns during the next City Council meeting.
