Norwalk Republican registrar of voters criticized over Black History Month comment on Facebook

The Norwalk Republican registrar of voters is under fire for comments she made about Black History Month on Facebook.

News 12 Staff

Jun 29, 2020, 6:55 PM

Updated 1,396 days ago

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The Norwalk Republican registrar of voters is under fire for comments she made about Black History Month on Facebook.
Karen Doyle Lyons responded to a Facebook post a week ago with the comment, "No more Black History Month because many of us know more then many Blacks."
She tells News 12 her comments were taken out of context and that she never meant to say anything that was racist or hurt anyone. Doyle Lyons says she meant that Black history should be taught year-round.
"How can that be out of context? No more Black History Month?" says Darnell Crosland, a Stamford attorney and recent Norwalk mayoral candidate.
Crosland, who changed parties to become a Republican, says he didn't feel welcome when making the switch with Doyle Lyons last April.
He says that after one of his first Republican Town Committee meetings, she told him to "get a broom and sweep up the place."
Local members of the NAACP say the post is not sitting well with them.
Norwalk Republicans say the post was highly inappropriate.
The city has asked Doyle Lyons to resign, and says she tendered her resignation but then rescinded it.
Doyle Lyons says she should not have to resign.
Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling tells News 12 in a statement, "I condemn the comments made recently by Registrar of Voters Karen Doyle Lyons on Facebook. They were ignorant, hurtful, and racist. I was disgusted by her comments and immediately contacted the Chair of the RTC and asked for her resignation..."
Connecticut Secretary of the State Denise Merrill released a statement saying, "Elections are about public trust and Norwalk Registrar of Voters Karen Lyons has broken that trust with her disgusting and indefensible comments. She should resign immediately."
Editor's note: The spelling “then” instead of “than” in the comment is as the comment reads.
 


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