06:16 PM CST on Friday, January 27, 2006

By Doug Miller / 11 News

Doug Miller's 11 News report

Following an 11 News report Thursday night, community leaders have called for the resignation of a Houston Port Commissioner who has come under fire due of an alleged racist remark. One Harris County commissioner said that Cheryl Thompson-Draper told him she plans to resign her position.

Draper is an appointee of the Harris County Commissioner's Court which is headed by Harris County Judge Robert Eckels. 11 News has been unable to reach Eckels for comment.

The controversy stems from a trade mission to Shanghai taken in 2005.

"Something happened. Something more than just what was explained to me happened," said El Franco Lee, Harris Co. Commissioner

County Commissioner El Franco Lee said eyewitnesses told him that when a black band played at a Shanghai event, Port Commissioner Cheryl Thompson-Draper said, "Just country western music. If not, I am out of here. I won't listen to this jungle-bunny music."

Lee wrote Draper a letter calling the remark a slur.

"Diversity, sensitivity and inclusion, it erases all that. It all becomes lip service once a statement is credited to a person that's supposed to come from our region, our country," said Lee.

When asked if commissioner Draper had told her she objected to what she described as "jungle bunny music, "Yes, she did," said Jim Edmonds, Houston Port Commission Chairman.

The chairman of the Houston Port Authority commission confirmed the story for 11 News.

PORT OF HOUSTON

Cheryl Draper Thomas

Draper sent 11 News a written statement saying in part that, "I do not recall the comment ..." and that it "... is not in my vocabulary and is certainly not reflective of my personal attitude or character. I apologize if anyone was offended by anything I said at the event expressing my displeasure with the band's performance..."

"People are offended by it," said former Houston Mayor Lee Brown. "And it's an embarassment for our government that that happened."

Houston City Council Member Ron Green agreed. He said, "If the statements are true, certainly the individual has to resign. That is not the international image we want to project."

This incident happened last May. It is noteworthy that all of this is coming to light only now, a month after Draper recommended that Kase Lawal, the only African-American on the Port Commission, step down from the Vice Chairman's post. Only after that did Commissioner Lee write his letter, sending copies to every other port commissioner and every other county commissioner.

"People's personal bigotry is their own business, but when you're in a position of power and authority, I think you should control that. And my question is, if it's true, then it needs to be dealt with by the port authority," said Ada Edwards, Houston city councilmember.

When asked in what way it should be dealt with, "I would call for her resignation," Edwards said.