Resident urges apology, diversity training after transit board chair’s comments about Black Student Union

At the March 17 meeting, the board read a public comment from Cynthia Klein-Webb expressing alarm over public statements by Ron Jedda, identified in the comment as the president of a community recreational district board and chairman of the Madison County Transit Board, about a Collinsville High School Black Student Union fundraiser.

Klein-Webb quoted Jedda’s remarks in her written comment: “Black Lives Matter is a divisive organization involved with rioting, destruction of property, and injury to innocent people. I don’t condone those tactics and actions, and neither should other people.” She said the comment characterized the student group unfairly and asked the board to consider diversity training for officials and for an apology to the students.

The comment called attention to a Collinsville march in June 2020 that a local parent said was peaceful, and referenced local NAACP interest in training resources. The public comment was entered into the record but the board did not vote or take disciplinary action.

Board member Mick Madison later commented on free speech at the meeting, saying: “we live in a free country with an absolute right to freedom of speech, which also means our opinion.” He framed the matter as a tension between differing public views and the right to express them. No further action was scheduled by the board; the complaint remains a matter of public record.