Governor Robert Bentley’s recent comments regarding Hiawayi Robinson were quite troublesome. Eight year old Hiawayi was reported missing on Tuesday, September 16, 2014 when she did not arrive at her aunt’s home as expected. A missing report is filed by her family on Tuesday and an alert issued by the Alabama Department of Public Safety. Two days later her body was found on the side of a road not far from her home in Prichard, Alabama.
Governor Bentley was asked for a comment after the news of Hiawayi’s death. Typically when a family suffers a loss, a tragedy has occurred, or a child is murdered, elected officials immediately offer condolences to the family. Governor Bentley did not offer prayers, condolences or comforting words of support to the Robinson family or to the community. Instead, Governor Bentley insinuated that Hiawayi’s family difficulties are to blame. “There are things that happen that we just don’t understand,” he replied, “There are difficulties in families.” The Governor further compounded the matter when he added, “We don’t know if it’s – you never know – maybe drug related. Maybe alcohol related.”
There have been no reports from the police department that the family’s dysfunction, drugs, or alcohol is related to Hiawayi’s death. Except Bentley is privy to the information regarding the investigation, his statements are baseless.
Governor Bentley did nothing short of spitting on Hiawayi’s grave with his insensitive, inappropriate, and shameful comments. The Governor’s office initially stated that Bentley was commenting on domestic violence and his statements were taken out of context. It is a fact, however, that Bentley was in Point Clear, Ala. on a campaign tour to speak to the annual meeting of Manufacture Alabama when a reporter asked him about Hiawayi.
The Governor has offered no apology for his comments. It is a sad day in Alabama when the very governor can make such comments as if it were a sport. Bentley’s comments were sinful and he should be ashamed.
Lamartra January
Birmingham, AL 35222
