Shirley Sherrod's firing from USDA prompts firestorm

The USDA official's firing came after a conservative blogger posted her truncated comments to the NAACP that, 24 years ago, she didn't help a white farmer as much as she could have.

July 21, 2010

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack tells reporters that he acted in haste in firing Shirley Sherrod. "This is a good woman," Vilsack said. "She's been put through hell. I could have done and should have done a better job."

J. Scott Applewhite-AP

July 21, 2010

Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., left, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Tex., and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, walk out after their meeting on Capitol Hill. A spokeswoman said Vilsack was there to apologize and listen.

Alex Brandon-AP

July 21, 2010

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack listens as members of the Congressional Black Caucus speak to the press after their meeting.

Brendan Smialowski-Getty Images

July 21, 2010

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, center, answers questions after his meeting with the Congressional Black Caucus on Capitol Hill. Vilsack has offered Sherrod another job at the USDA, but she said on NBC's "Today" show that she was not inclined to accept the offer.

Alex Brandon-AP

July 21, 2010

"Members of this administration, members of the media, members of different political factions on both sides of this have all made determinations and judgments without a full set of facts," said White House press secretary Robert Gibbs at Wednesday's daily briefing. The White House did a sudden about-face Wednesday and apologized to Sherrod, whose ouster ignited an embarrassing political firestorm over race.

Kevin Lamarque-Reuters

Shirley Sherrod, 62, was thrust into the spotlight after a whirlwind of controversy in which she was both villainized and vindicated. Since resigning Tuesday, Sherrod has become a regular fixture on CNN, sharing her story and thoughts as the drama unfolded.

USDA via AP

Fox News commentator Bill O'Reilly apologizes for playing Shirley Sherrod's out-of-context remarks on his show. "I owe Ms. Sherrod an apology for not doing my homework . . . and for not putting her remarks into proper context." O'Reilly said.

Fox News-FOX NEWS

July 21, 2010

Mikhiela Sherrod, daugher-in-law of Shirley Sherrod, speaks during a rally in Albany, Ga.

Terry Lewis-AP

July 21, 2010

Kenyatta Sherrod, left, and Russia Sherrod, the children of Shirley Sherrod, speak to a reporter after a rally in support for their mother in Albany, Ga.

Terry Lewis-AP

July 21, 2010

Tighe Barry of Los Angeles, right, and Zaccai Free join a rally outside the Agriculture Department building in Washington in support of Shirley Sherrod, the department's former director of rural development in Georgia. Protesters demanded that Sherrod be reinstated to her job.

Manuel Balce Ceneta-AP

March 2010

In a video image provided by the NAACP, Sherrod is shown speaking in March at an NAACP banquet in Georgia. A conservative Web site posted video of some of her remarks, causing a furor that led to her condemnation by the NAACP and her ouster by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

July 20, 2010

Farmer Roger Spooner of Iron City, Ga., was the subject of a story told by Sherrod that set off a racially tinged firestorm and led to calls for her resignation. Spooner and his family came to Sherrod's defense Tuesday. "She's a good friend. She helped us save our farm," Spooner's wife, Eloise, told CNN. "She's the one I give credit for helping us save our farm."

Johnny Clark-AP

Oct. 21, 2009

Andrew Breitbart is the owner of BigGovernment.com, the Web site that posted video Monday of Agricultural Department employee Sherrod's remarks that she didn't give a white farmer as much help as she could have 24 years ago, causing a furor that led to her condemnation by the NAACP and her ouster by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

Haraz N. Ghanbari-AP

Jan. 14, 2009

By early Wednesday, as the full context of the video became known, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack -- shown at his confirmation hearing last year -- said he would review his decision to ask Sherrod to step down.

Jim Lo Scalzo-Bloomberg News

July 21, 2010

Zaccai Free, center, joins a rally outside the Agriculture Department building in Washington, in support of Sherrod.

Manuel Balce Ceneta-AP

July 21, 2010

Fatahma Odebe joins a rally outside the Agriculture Department building in Washington, in support of Sherrod.

Manuel Balce Ceneta-AP

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This Story Ousted ag official unsure about returning to work Article \| ALBANY, Ga. -- Former Agriculture Department official Shirley Sherrod, who was forced to resign after a blogger posted comments she made to an NAACP audience about race, is unsure about returning to a government job, she said Friday. Double standard seen in USDA incident Sherrod called on grit to help carry her Finger-pointing at Fox in Shirley Sherrod firing Shirley Sherrod's firing from USDA prompts firestorm Washington Post's Chris Cillizza on 'Top Line' Shirley Sherrod video: USDA reconsiders job after race remarks Shirley Sherrod video: Vilsack offers to hire back ousted worker Sherrod: When leaders rush to judgment What Sherrod was telling us This Story Shirley Sherrod turns down USDA job after video controversy Article \| Shirley Sherrod politely declined to return to the federal government weeks after she was forced to resign amid a race-laden political controversy. Double standard seen in USDA incident A place for race on Obama's agenda Sherrod called on grit to help carry her Finger-pointing at Fox in Shirley Sherrod firing Shirley Sherrod's firing from USDA prompts firestorm Shirley Sherrod video: Vilsack offers to hire back ousted worker Shirley Sherrod video: USDA reconsiders job after race remarks Washington Post's Chris Cillizza on 'Top Line' Sherrod: When leaders rush to judgment		Network News X Profile View More Activity TOOLBOX E-Mail This Reprints		More on washingtonpost.com • More Photo News » washingtonpost.com
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Shirley Sherrod's firing from USDA prompts firestorm

The USDA official's firing came after a conservative blogger posted her truncated comments to the NAACP that, 24 years ago, she didn't help a white farmer as much as she could have.

Network News