Hudson American Legion chapter suspended, top official resigns after microphone controversy

The Hudson American Legion post has had its charter suspended and one of its top officers has stepped down after a Memorial Day controversy in which a speakers microphone was muted when the former U. S. Army officer began talking about how freed Black slaves had honored fallen soldiers soon after the Civil War. In a statement posted on its website on Friday, the American Legion Department of Ohio posted the following: Effective Immediately, Department Commander, Roger Friend, has suspended Hudson LeeBishop American Legion Post 464 Charter pending permanent Retired Army Lt. Col. Barnard Kemter told 3News he thought it was an audio glitch at first, but it was no glitch at all. His microphone was purposely muted for several minutes. I wanted to explain how the African Americans were responsible and instrumental in establishing the first Memorial Day one month after the end of the Civil War, he said. I wanted to explain this little known part of American But organizers of the ceremony