Blog Archives

Board of Elections Meeting Recall Application to Remove ANC Commissioner Holly Muhammad - The Applicant Tells of his Intentions

8/26/2021

Today, August 28, 2021, The DC Board of Elections will meet and during its General Meeting the Board is expected to adopt the petition by Fairlawn resident Tom Donohue to Recall ANC 8A01 Commissioner Holly Muhammad. Tom Donohue issues this statement in advance of the BOE Meeting.

Neighbors, I have been living among you as your neighbor right across from the new Boone Elementary for eight years. I have battled DOT for a stop sign on 22nd Street which Commissioner Muhammad refused to support citing her need for her own projects to be approved first. I was personally outraged by this as the lives of our Boone Superstars were at risk with every speeding vehicle which started at Fairlawn and didn't have to stop or slow down until Minnesota Ave. So I took the lack of stop sign, speedbumps, & a crossing guard to NBC4 where after two years of trying the attention brought resulted in an override by public opinion and within two days temporary stop signs were down, within the week they were permeant, two speedbumps and a crossing guard were installed in record time and just in time for the start of the school year.

Most recently during a July 13th ANC Meeting Commissioner Muhammad ejected me from this open meeting after I joined others complaining (IN THE CHAT ROOM ONLY) that her refusal to upgrade a fellow Commissioners Zoom Access was delaying my asking about the lights on the underpass heading to Anacostia Park off Fairlawn, and that crazy decision to restrict a U-Turn on Minnesota preventing a cross over PA Ave to get to the other side of Minnesota. I felt compelled to immediately request the preservation of that evenings Zoom meeting and chat by sending an email to Ms. Muhammad along with Mr. Simon the Executive Director who directly works with the ANC Commissioners. This started a back and forth chain with Ms. Muhammad which requested the actual Zoom meeting and its chat transcript so that I could be transparent and show you, my neighbors what actually occurred and what prevented me from inquiring about the two items I was bringing to the meeting. Commissioner Muhammad inappropriately responded saying,

Your threats of meetings and recalls don't frighten me. YOU don't frighten me. I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO! So you better stay out of my way.

She even went to the extent of blatantly lying I suppose to attempt to inject race into this discussion. You can ask her why she decided to represent herself this way, however I have never been affiliated, associated or even heard of the proudboys until former President Trump injected them into his campaign. I was how ever a proud member of the Charlottesville, Virginia community over a decade (before moving here to DC) ago when I moved there to be a flight attendant for the then US Airways Express. I'm disgusted that this elected member who represents both you and I attempted to even make such a claim by saying (she said it in two emails),

"I have to repeat myself? So I will do it this time with the MPD copied. "You don't dictate to me. I don't take instructions from the Proud Boys from Charlottesville. Don't email me again."

In closing, I'd like to make mention in the eight years I have lived in the Fairlawn community I have learned so much from you all enough to know that you won't tolerate injustice, My request of asking for the Board of Elections to adopt my Recall of Commissioner Muhammad is because her bullying tactics no longer represent us well. I have been appreciative of those neighbors who have shared their personal experiences dealing with Commissioner Muhammad. I have also been informed that Ms. Muhammad, although a bull when it comes to Ward 8 matters, just does not listen to anything she does not agree with. She has kicked others out of ANC Zoom meetings without notice or cause.

Some of our neighbors have questioned my intentions so let me discuss this briefly. Allow me to be forward and honest. I am confident I could represent all of those in this single member district, I wouldn't be representing those of a certain race however representing those who are my neighbors, You my neighbors. However, Just like when the Boone Community insisted my being part of the selection committee for the new principal at Boone, I feel I have much more to learn from you and wish to stand side by side a candidate who wants to be more involved in their community. A neighbor whose candidacy becomes about all of us. It needs to represent us all with a level of respect that all of us wants and deserves to have. This means should my recall of Commissioner Muhammad be successful, I have no intentions of running for her open seat, while collecting recall signatures I hope to identify or encourage some of you to stand up for what would be a special election to succeed Ms. Muhammad, I am confident those individuals will step forward and I will commit to supporting the right candidate in anyway I can. First, we must move past Commissioner Muhammad's bullying like approach her lying, her refusal to conform to required public information requests and her unwilling to represent all of those in our single member district. Neighbors we need someone who will listen to everyone as the matters before our ANC Commissioner face all of us, I ask you to please use your voice in joining me in bringing some refreshing change and be one of my 200 signatures needed to recall Ms. Muhammad.

Supporting Documentation:

img_0487.png
File Size:	844 kb
File Type:	png

Download File

all_ejection_emails.pdf
File Size:	200 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

notice_on_intent_to_recall.pdf
File Size:	450 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

response_to_recall_attempt.pdf
File Size:	60 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

freedom_of_information_request_-_signed.pdf
File Size:	157 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Comments

Commissioner Muhammad Responds To Notice of Intent to Recall, Sort Of

8/4/2021

Comments

This is Commissioner Muhammad's Response to
Notice of Intent to Recall

At the close of our ANC 8A meeting on July 13, 2021, it was discovered that Commissioner Moore was logged in the meeting under MY name without my knowledge or permission
Commissioner Moore was asked several times to log out and log in under her ANC panelist link with her OWN name to have the floor
She refused and was not given the floor
Tom Donahue interjected himself in internal ANC business and was removed from the meeting for making derogatory remarks
Tom Donahue was out of order and was advised that he was
We have a code of conduct which includes not making derogatory comments about ANYONE
Tom Donahue has been threatening, harassing, and disrespecting me since he moved into this neighborhood
His words and conduct toward me is that of a racist, bully and misogynist
On the eve of election night, he charged at me in a threatening manner yelling that he was going to challenge me
He recently threatened to expose my fellow Commissioners to the media if they did not support his recall petition
He has been keeping my neighbors under illegal surveillance with his cameras making racist remarks about who enters their homes

This is Tom Donohue's Response to her above response:

Commissioner Muhammad I am not an elected official, my actions as a constituent are not what put you in this position or is what will remove you from one. However, It's clear that you are concerned about your very actions in which brought us here as you feel you must mislead, no lie to your constituents attempting to put neighbor against neighbor, that's the sad part.

Commissioner Moore should have been given the access granted to her by those who voted for her. If I was one of her constituents I'd be upset that you, silenced your own fellow commissioner, the simple solution was to just elevate the login she was using to presenter so she could speak on her single member district matter that was being discussed. Again my response to your refusal in elevating Commissioner Moore's Zoom access is my business, you are my elected official and if you are conducting yourself unprofessionally during a public meeting then my comments in a chat box about your behavior are well within the meetings discussion. Additionally, my comments only followed several other peoples comments however folks won't be able to see for their own as you refused to make the public meeting available for inspection as per your requirements.
Commissioner Muhammad, you say you kicked me out for "derogatory remarks" and that I was advised prior to your ejection. To this I say "PROVE THIS" this is frankly not true and if you would simply release the Zoom meeting and its chat of the meeting as requested of you several times in a Freedom of Information Act Request this matter would prove itsself. However you refuse to release the video allowing you to say whatever you'd like about the meeting as you know you are the only one to have access to the meeting. As long as you refuse to release it this can't be proved.
Ms. Muhammad do you realize this opportunity to respond to my Notice to Recall Intent is for you to address the matters of which I am asking my neighbors to remove you from office? You again and again bring up falsehoods of actions you say I have committed against you, for starters you are an elected official, if you can't stand the political heat then I'd suggest you find some other game, a game without a badge you like to pull out to show everyone. For everything I have claimed of you I have provided its supporting documentation, and even though this recall is not about me or my actions your accusations need support behind them. Unfortunately you don't have supporting documentation as there is none.
Ms. Muhammad, let see if I can wrap up the last few claims against me (as if i am an elected official up for recall) Yes, I was proud not to vote for you as you ran unopposed, and yes I did tell you to enjoy your last term as you'd have competition come next election whether that be me or another neighbor your time bullying neighbors around and making false accusations against me like being part of the Proud Boys of Charlottesville are disgusting and dictate your removal from office, this behavior has no place in our neighborhood especially by an elected official. As far as my threatening your fellow commissioners of going to the media if they chose not to remove you from office is absolutely correct. You simply do not see that your racist behavior is wrong and I'd expect for the betterment of our community any elected official to speak up and against behavior like yours whether such behavior came from you or a white Commissioner its wrong and yohave proven with your words that you are unable to represent all of those you represent and in that spirit anyone wishing to accept behavior like yours should be held accountable. Can you imagine if I made racist comments or claims of affiliation of hate groups about you how that would have been handled? Well this is a two way street and behavior like that should be exposed. I have faith that enough of our neighbors will see your behaviors inappropriate and will support your removal, as its the right thing to do.
Your comment "He has been keeping my neighbors under illegal surveillance with his cameras making racist remarks about who enters their homes" what in the world are you talking about. The security cameras out side of my apartment building have captured a murder, a robbery at gunpoint, and various acts of crime within the distance they can see against my neighbors. These cameras are installed on the outside of my building pointed to the public sidewalk and street all areas which are public in sight and where no one has a claim to privacy. How do you claim this 'surveillance' is illegal (wait remind me aren't we suppose to be talking about your actions and not the matters picked up on my security cameras which was vital in the apprehension of a murder suspect when he ran over and killed a fellow DC neighbor Mr. David Farewell on Sept 5, 2020 ( wait by the way as a concerned ANC Commissioner did you help that grieving family when their Son, and Father was murdered in your single member district? Did you attend that mans vigil that I helped to arrange to help support those who loved Mr. Farewell? No. Not even a phone call to their family. So lets stop and refocus on what you should have addressed in your 200 word response

So now, have you addressed anything of which I have accused you of in my Notice of Recall? Yes one thing. Why you think you had any right to eject me from a public ANC Meeting of which you couldn't even be truthful about. You say not one word about the racist remarks and false claims about me, your neighbor. Why? Why didn't you defend your claim that I have any affiliation to the Proud Boys or any hate or white supremacy group? Because you can't there is nothing to support your false claim, and as far you not being anyone's "Negro" being an elected official someone your community has trusted to instill good and encourage change into that very neighborhood, You'd think by now you'd understand our neighbors are of all nationalities and you are suppose to represent all of us, You are your own person and will be held accountable for your own words and actions, you spoke on your on behalf no one spoke for you - you freely expressed your own thoughts and soon our neighbors will come together to decide whether your actions, falsehoods, and words dictate your removal from office. Its sad that you have publicly exposed the kind of woman you are, the values you live by well this is a no bully zone and I ask our neighbors to join me in removing you from elected office. #BullyFreeZone.

Here is the Initial Intent To Recall Submitted by Tom Donohue to the Board of Elections

During a July 13th ANC08 meeting, Commissioner & Chairwoman Muhammad (A801) ANC08 ejected Mr. Tom Donohue, an eight-year, small business owner from ANA801 without cause, discussion, or warning. Mr. Donohue joined other neighbors from ANC08 asking Commissioner Muhammad to elevate the logon of Commissioner Moore so the meeting could move on and so Commissioner Moore could properly represent her constituency. Having other matters that Mr. Donohue wanted to inquire about Mr. Donohue joined others asking her to simply elevate Commissioner Moore’s login so that the meeting could move on matters to which Commissioner Muhammad immediately ejected him resulting in Mr. Donohue’s inability to raise two matters pertaining to his neighborhood. In an email string sent to the ANC Director and all the ANC08 Commissioners, Muhammad become so racist in her responses that Mr. Donohue feels it rises to the level of being recalled. The responses included “You don't dictate to me. “I don't take instructions from the Proud Boys from Charlottesville. Don't email me again.” And “Your threats of meetings and recalls don't frighten me. YOU don't frighten me. I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO! So you better stay out of my way.”

Supporting Documentation

Comments

ANC8A Commissioner Holly Muhammad Ejects Constituent During ANC Meeting, Falsely Claims Proud Boy Affiliation & Claims She is Not His Negro. He Responds with Notice of Intent to Recall

8/4/2021

Comments

PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Tom Donohue
Office: 202-525-4390 x102
Email: [email protected]

ANC8A Commissioner Holly Muhammad Ejects Constituent During ANC Meeting, Falsely Claims Proud Boy Affiliation & Claims She is Not His Negro. He Responds with Notice of Intent to Recall

Washington, DC, August 3, 2021: Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner and Chairwoman of 8A01, Holly Muhammad, ejected an 8-year small business owner and resident from the meeting. The constituent, Tom Donohue, was forced out during their July 13, 2021, ANC meeting without cause, warning, discussion or even notifying the other Commissioners of her action.

Mr. Donohue submitted a written Freedom of Information Act request to Commissioner Muhammad demanding that she preserve the evening’s meeting notes and provide him a video copy of the Zoom meeting, as well as its chat session. In an email response to his FOIA request, Commissioner Muhammad falsely accused Mr. Donohue of being a white supremacist saying,

“You don't dictate to me. I don't take instructions from the Proud Boys from Charlottesville. Don't email me again.”
She repeated the accusation to others in the community, including a member of the MPD 6D unit and members of Mr. Donohue’s Councilmember Trayon White’s staff. After Mr. Donohue attempted to defend himself from the libelous statement and expressed an interest in having her recalled from public office, Commissioner and Chairwoman Muhammad of ANC8A responded by saying,
“Your threats of meetings and recalls don't frighten me. YOU don't frighten me. I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO! So you better stay out of my way.”
Based on her incredulous actions, on Friday, July 23, 2021, Mr. Donohue filed a Notice of Intent to Recall Commissioner Muhammad with the DC Board of Elections.
Donohue has had several interactions with Commissioner Muhammad during his eight-year residence in the Fairlawn community. During one interaction, Commissioner Muhammad refused to give her approval for the placement of stop signs, which protected area families crossing the street for school. Selfishly, she declined support, until her other outstanding DDOT requests were fulfilled. “Commissioner Muhammad’s approach to governing is, if I don’t like what they say, or if they do not agree with me, I’ll block them, eject them, or ignore them”, said Tom Donohue in a written statement. He continued saying, “Frankly, I don’t know why Commissioner Muhammad’s fellow Commissioners and my fellow neighbors have not already called for and removed her from her leadership role, given her approach to governing and her blatantly racist remarks and false accusations of hate or white supremacy” Donohue calls upon each of the 8A Commissioners to demand a special session this month to cast a vote to have Commissioner Muhammad removed from her Chair position. “it’s the right thing to do!” Donohue Said.
Donohue’s official FOIA request for the download of the meeting and chat dialogue continue to go unanswered. He also notes Commissioner Muhammad has Mr. Donohue blocked from social media platforms which Ms. Muhammad uses to inform her constituency of matters related to her single member district and those she represents.
######

Comments

Board of Elections Meeting Recall Application to Remove ANC Commissioner Holly Muhammad - The Applicant Tells of his Intentions

Supporting Documentation:

Commissioner Muhammad Responds To Notice of Intent to Recall, Sort Of

This is Commissioner Muhammad's Response to ​Notice of Intent to Recall

This is Tom Donohue's Response to her above response:

Here is the Initial Intent To Recall Submitted by Tom Donohue to the Board of Elections

Supporting Documentation

ANC8A Commissioner Holly Muhammad Ejects Constituent During ANC Meeting, Falsely Claims Proud Boy Affiliation & Claims She is Not His Negro. He Responds with Notice of Intent to Recall

Archives

Categories

This is Commissioner Muhammad's Response to
Notice of Intent to Recall