OPINION: Take a stand against Judy Eledge and her enablers

Kyle Hopkins’ latest collaboration with the Anchorage Daily News and ProPublica devoted more than 4,000 words to detailing the contempt and hatred Judy Eledge has for people who don’t look or act like her.

However, the point of the story is much more succinct: Two of Alaska’s most prominent elected officials — Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy and Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson — have repeatedly defended Eledge in the face of her racist comments, supplied her with power and public money despite losing as a candidate, and worked to quash attempts to expose or discipline her.

The article includes several audio clips where an employee recorded Eledge saying racist things, yet she remains one of the top officials at the Anchorage Public Library, installed and stubbornly preserved in her role courtesy of Bronson. Dunleavy, who hired Eledge as an education consultant in the past, recently appointed her to the national Education Commission of the States.

Eledge’s continued work at the library and the commission appointment come nearly a year after it was reported that she said, “I worked in an Alaska Native village. If it wasn’t for the white man and his oil money, they’d still be raping their daughters in caves.” It’s one of her many racist comments that has been made public — and we know Eledge is just the tip of a very dirty iceberg and a symptom of a broader belief that white men pulled Alaska Native people out of savagery. This is exemplified in the lack of empathy and care (let alone outrage) for Native people’s pain — whether individual or collective.

The media have extensively covered Eledge’s hateful speech. A Google News search of her name turns up 105 articles. She’s often characterized as “controversial.” While she may be that, controversy isn’t exclusively negative. Eledge is hateful and racist. When you do a news search for Eledge using “racist” as a keyword, only nine articles show up.

Maybe that’s because the news media is concerned about displaying bias. Maybe it’s because powerful white men continue to support and promote her in the face of her racist and discriminatory comments. Maybe it’s because when city employees filed complaints regarding Eledge’s racist comments, the investigator looking into the complaints was fired, and then the Human Resources Director showed up to a Library Advisory Board meeting wearing a T-shirt that said: “I’m With Judy.”

Eledge’s racism and bigotry weren’t just tolerated; they were celebrated. Not only do they not hold her accountable, Bronson and Duneavy continue to put her in positions of power where her racist views influence policy and practice.

Eledge, and people like her, have no place in our city government, on our public boards and commissions, or receiving public contracts. They should be unapologetically uprooted from any place of influence and power. So hold Eledge and her supporters accountable — especially Dunleavy and Bronson.

Be an ally of Alaska Native, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. Advocate for historically accurate curriculum on Alaska Natives in our schools, so the next generation is more informed. Share the article. Call out her racist, homophobic and transphobic comments. Testify against hateful ideology, such as HB 105. Contact Dunleavy and Bronson’s offices demanding her removal. Again, there is no place for racism, bigotry, or hate in our community. What there should be is accountability. If Dunleavy and Bronson don’t remove her from those positions of power, it signals that they support racism and hate. Again — there is no place for this. We shouldn’t tolerate it.

Most importantly, don’t let racist and hateful ideology dominate the conversation. Alaska is a Native place, stewarded abundantly by Indigenous people for thousands of years — people with rich cultural knowledge and practices that make Alaska a better place for everyone. Alaska’s LGBTQ+ families are beautiful and brave and live their truths despite violence against them. We are all better off when Alaskans can live to their fullest potential and be welcomed and valued for who they are.

So please, show up to public meetings and events to advocate for schools. Apply to be on boards and commissions. Take an active role in shaping your community. Bottom line: Take a stand against the rest of the iceberg of racism and hate. Our Alaska Native, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ families deserve our unwavering support.

Sara Dykstra is a community activist and resident of Anchorage. Carolyn Hall is a small-business owner who lives and works on Dena’ina land. Aubrey Wieber is the executive director of the 907 Initiative and an ally living on Dena’ina land. Rozlyn Grady-Wyche is the President of The Alaska Coalition of BIPOC Educators, mother, special education teacher and born-and-raised resident of Anchorage. Erin Binek is a lifelong Alaskan, Anchorage School District parent of two, educator, reader and ally. Sheri Lisenbee is an Anchorage mother, nurse, activist and proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community. Barbara Svarny Carlson of Anchorage is an Unangan from Unalaska who taught in public schools in Puyallup, Wash., Kenai and Anchorage. Corrie Whitmore is a reader, educator, mother of book-loving children and a lifelong Alaska resident. Crystal Howard is a mother, health care professional and community-building Alaskan activist on Dena’ina territory. Rachael McPherson is an Alaskan, mother, ASD parent and nonprofit worker.

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