{"id":40918,"date":"2022-04-28T10:56:08","date_gmt":"2022-04-28T16:56:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/colorado-parks-wildlife-director-suspended-after-alleged-back-of-the-bus-comment-about-black-employee\/"},"modified":"2022-04-28T16:56:08","modified_gmt":"2022-04-28T16:56:08","slug":"colorado-parks-wildlife-director-suspended-after-alleged-back-of-the-bus-comment-about-black","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/colorado-parks-wildlife-director-suspended-after-alleged-back-of-the-bus-comment-about-black\/","title":{"rendered":"Colorado Parks & Wildlife director suspended after alleged \u2018back of the bus\u2019 comment about Black employee"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Prenzlow\"
Prenzlow<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

The Colorado Department of Natural Resources placed Parks and Wildlife Director Dan Prenzlow on paid leave after a Black employee sent an open letter to Gov. Jared Polis complaining of racism against her and others at a Vail outdoors conference.<\/p>\n

The letter by the employee, statewide partnerships coordinator Alease \u201cAloe\u201d Lee, said Prenzlow tried to thank her for helping organize the sold-out Partners in the Outdoors Conference held at Vail\u2019s The Hythe hotel on Apr. 19. As she stood in the back of the room, Lee said, \u201cIn a failed attempt to thank me, he exclaims on stage in front of 600 people \u2018\u2026 there she is! In the back of the bus, Aloe!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Before the civil rights movement of the 1960s, many American cities had Jim Crow laws and practices that required Black passengers, for example, to give up their bus seats to white passengers and take seats at the back. Civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks famously refused in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955.<\/p>\n

Lee\u2019s letter to Polis and the DNR leadership said Prenzlow sought her out later and said \u201che wasn\u2019t aware of the context of his words and that he didn\u2019t mean any harm. I have never known the phrase \u2018back of the bus\u2019 to not cause harm to Black people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lee is the organizer of the annual Partners in the Outdoors Conference, which gathers hundreds of local governments, businesses, conservation groups and advocacy organizations to discuss potential ways diverse groups can work together on natural resource protection. The one-day event featured several breakout sessions, a keynote luncheon and awards dinner. Prenzlow made the comment to Lee during the conference\u2019s final moments.<\/p>\n

In an email to conference attendees that evening after the conference, Prenzlow apologized for making \u201can insensitive comment\u201d during the awards banquet.<\/p>\n

\u201cI appreciate those who pointed out my statement and how my comment evokes painful realities that many have and continue to face. When we talk about intent versus impact, I learned how quickly a statement can have a harmful and hurtful impact. I am sincerely sorry,\u201d Prenzlow said in his email.<\/p>\n

On Saturday, DNR Executive Director Dan Gibbs emailed attendees of the conference saying \u201cequitable, inclusive access for all to our programs, events and the outdoors are a priority personally and integral to the mission and culture of DNR.\u201d He said his department was launching a \u201cfact finding investigation to better understand what occurred and to help inform any future personnel or department actions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lee, in her open letter to Polis calling for the termination of Prenzlow that circulated among conference attendees last weekend, said Prenzlow\u2019s apology was \u201cvague\u201d and \u201cunfelt.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAgain, I am traumatized, exhausted, disappointed, and extremely uncomfortable after this horrific experience,\u201d Lee wrote.<\/p>\n

On Monday night, Gibbs released a statement that he had placed Prenzlow on administrative leave \u201cin light of the complaints and events at the conference,\u201d and designated Heather Dugan, the agency\u2019s assistant director for field services, as acting director for CPW.<\/p>\n

The Department of Natural Resources confirmed it has the open letter and is reviewing the allegations.<\/p>\n

The Colorado Sun is a reader-supported, nonpartisan news organization dedicated to covering Colorado issues. To learn more, go to coloradosun.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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