Date: September 21, 2022

Dear Lace on Race Community and those looking on,

Many of you have seen comments recently by those who do not align with the ethos of LoR, nor wish us well. It has been our desire to acknowledge these individuals and their comments (and use those as a growth opportunity) and yet not fan the flames of their discontent. That can be a tough line to walk and it will be for each of you to decide for yourselves if we have done that well.

Unfortunately for this community, these individuals do not seem to tire in their pursuit of Lace, and their harassment has now become even more personal. One or more persons are using the name “Lacie Bush” and, in some places, “Lacie W. Bush”. These names are a condensed version of our Executive Director’s (Lace Watkins) full legal name. This persona not only comments on Facebook posts, but has registered on our website and has reached out to Lace directly there (see the screenshots below). In assuming a version of Lace’s own name in order to harass her anonymously, this person or persons is doing incredible harm to Lace and our community, and could do yet more. Therefore, we feel we must address this particular commenter directly. 

We do not know what else this person or these people may do while using Lace’s name. For this reason, as little as we want to fuel their antics, we feel we must go on record to publicly decry their actions and make clear that anything you see written by Lacie Bush is in no way connected to Lace Watkins of Lace on Race, nor to the Lace on Race Center for Racial Equity.

If you have questions about this situation, you can place them in the discussion linked below, and available in the Bistro.

With Hesed Hearts, 

The Board of Directors of Lace on Race Center for Racial Equity

Laura Berwick, Chair

Jessica Lee, Secretary

Danielle Joy Holcombe, Interim Treasurer

Rhonda Freeman, Comptroller

Christina Sonas

Christin Spoolstra

Vicki van den Eikhof

Julie Helwege