The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) Deaf Caucus is a member section that provides “RID’s Member Sections (MS) provide a relationship-building forum for RID members to share common interests, goals, and concerns that are also consistent with RID’s mission and values. The Caucus met on June 14 to discuss concerns regarding the social

Open letter to RID Board members from RID Deaf Caucus (ASL version is coming.)

June 15, 2020

The Deaf Caucus member section leaders met on Sunday, June 14th to discuss the ramifications of the Kappa Gamma photo of the Nazi salute that was distributed through social media in recent weeks. The photo included two leaders within the RID organization: Jimmy Beldon and Bill Millios. It is the Deaf Caucus’s mission to strengthen the ties between all members of RID, advocate for the needs and interests of RID members who are deaf and provide a vehicle for open discussion and exchange of ideas.

As a member section, it is our role to advise the Board of Directors on issues pertaining to Deaf members of RID.

We are disturbed to learn that both Jimmy Beldon and Bill MIllios performed the Nazi salute in a 1988 photo which is distasteful, hurtful, disturbing, highly insensitive and completely inappropriate. It betrays the professionalism within the Deaf Interpreting field. It betrays the work we have within our communities in terms of Black Lives Matter.

Deaf Caucus strongly condemn the photo as it represents blatant act of anti-Semitism, racism, and hate.

Jimmy Beldon must resign from his role as member of the Deaf Advisory Council as his behavior is not tolerated. His behavior betrays the professionalism that Deaf Interpreters have fought to bring up to par and he should not represent us in any given manner. In addition, Jimmy failed to abide by the RID’s mission statement.

We ask that the RID Board investigate Bill Millios’ employment within RID as his gesture was not appropriate regardless of the year it happened. It was a poor judgement and ignorance on Bill MIllios’ part and as a Communications Director of RID, we find this disturbing and unacceptable. He did not meet the RID’s headquarter’s core values. He represents them very poorly.

This incident is intolerable to all members of RID and we ask the RID board to take action on the roles of Jimmy Beldon and Bill Millos within RID.

Thank you,

RID Deaf Caucus Member Section

E-mail contact information:

Chair, Andy Veith: deafcaucus.chair@rid.org

Vice Chair, Bradley Christlieb: rid.dc.vicechair@gmail.com

Secretary, Pamela Wright: rid.dc.secretary@gmail.com

Region I, David Krueger: rid.dc.region1@gmail.com

Region II, Chidi Olujie: rid.dc.region2@gmail.com

Region III, Edison Lopez, Jr.: rid.dc.region3@gmail.com

Region IV, Bob Baker: rid.dc.region4@gmail.com

Region V, Adam Janisieski: rid.dc.region5@gmail.com

*If you do not know which one is your region representative, please check out the website where you can identify which one: