Editor, The Era-Leader:
The June 4th edition of the Era-Leader carried the business of the town council meeting of May 27th. Among the various topics covered, there was a presentation by Amy Barkering about the town acquiring a “Safe Haven Baby Box”.
The Safe Haven Law allows a parent in crisis to safely surrender their child up to 60 days after it is born. The box is installed in an easily accessible location at the fire department. It has a silent alarm, so that when the door of the box is opened and the child placed within, fire department personnel will immediately retrieve the child and contact EMS. The child will then be assessed and transported to the hospital for evaluation and then Child Protection Services will be notified. Both the parent and the child remain anonymous as there are no cameras installed either in the area or on the receptacle itself.
Various questions were taken by Mrs Barkering concerning the use of the box and how quickly the child is retrieved and care is rendered. The question that stunned the people attending the council meeting was asked by Pepe Tate. His questions were, “If it is a black baby would that baby be able to live or likely be taken, because this is Franklinton?' He then followed that question with, “If it is a black baby put in the box would that baby get attention, because this is Franklinton?”
Was he implying that a black baby would somehow be treated badly? Does he think that the citizens of the town of Franklinton are heartless brutes and would somehow ignore that child because of its race?
In my opinion this is also insulting to those who worked to have a Safe Haven Baby Box available to those citizens of Washington Parish who might have a need for such a resource. I was saddened that someone would think this, and voice these vile comments. Then add the remark, “....because this is Franklinton.”.
Folks, this man took a worthwhile effort, a very commendable resource and turned it into a indictment of the entire town.
Folks, pray for this man.
Ben M Sarro
Franklinton
Editor’s note:
The Safe Haven Baby Box organization installs baby boxes mostly at fire stations and hospitals without regard to the race, religion, or national origin of the mother and the infant. The laudable goal of the organization is to prevent illegal abandonment of newborns and to save lives.
Mrs. Amy Barkering has successfully spearheaded efforts to install multiple Safe Haven Baby Boxes in St. Tammany Parish, and race has never been a consideration. We have verified this.
One of the organizers of the effort to obtain a Safe Haven Baby Box for Franklinton is local Fire Chief Brandon LaSalle.
On a regular basis LaSalle rushes to answer fire and medical calls, regardless of what neighborhood those calls might come from and regardless of whether the victim who is threatened by fire or medical emergency is white or black. The staff of The Era-Leader has personally witnessed LaSalle engage in potentially lifesaving actions with victims of all races.
Mrs. Barkering and Chief LaSalle deserve sincere appreciation for their efforts to bring a baby box to Franklinton. In our opinion, the vast majority of the caring citizens of Franklinton support those efforts.
