Antoine Smith-Rouse was recently recognized by the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office with a Civilian Service Award. In making the announcement, DCSO officials said it was a result of Smith-Rouse’s calming influence and demeanor during civil demonstrations with opposing factions at the Confederate monument on the Courthouse lawn this summer.
Smith Rouse said he was notified Wednesday by DCSO officials that they were going to present him an award, but he didn’t find out what it was until Friday.
“It is nice to be recognized,” Smith-Rouse said. “It’s nice for others to see that people are watching. Sometimes people don’t do things because they think ‘oh I’m just one person, I’m not gonna matter.’ But everyone is one person. At the end of the day, everyone is one person.”
On Aug. 6, Daviess County Fiscal Court was scheduled to make a decision on whether or not to remove the monument from the Courthouse lawn.
While there were a wide range of opinions on what to do with the statue and what should be done with it, there were two main opposing sides. One of those groups expressed the opinion that the monument symbolizes racism and it should be relocated, while another said it’s an important part of history and should remain.
During the Fiscal Court meeting, people from both groups held simultaneous rallies on the Courthouse lawn.
Some verbal arguments escalated — especially after the vote to eventually relocate the monument was final — but the scene was without incident for the most part .
At one point, Smith-Rouse — who stood with the group in support of removing the monument and wore a shirt that read “My skin color is not a crime” — took time to calm the nerves of those arguing and screaming at each other.
With permission from a group wanting the statue to stay, Smith Rouse used their microphone to tell everyone in the crowd that the demonstration was not the time or place for aggressive, antagonistic behavior.
On Friday, Smith-Rouse recalled that he knew he was going to go to the Courthouse but wasn’t anticipating the role he’d play.
“I made plans to go but my plans were not to stay more than 15 minutes,” he said. “I actually work a second job and I was supposed to work that night. After seeing the way emotions were high, I kind of felt like if I would have left things might have turned in a different direction. I actually called and found someone to work for me that evening just so I could stay. I was not planning on having an active role, I was just a participant and it just kind of evolved from there.”
In part, the award narrative Smith-Rouse received Friday reads: “Antoine made it clear from the start of the demonstration that he just wanted to voice his concern and did not want any physical violence or property damaged. Several times Antoine spoke to the crowd and was successful in keeping everyone calm. Without his presence and intervention, the outcome of these demonstrations could have had a different result. Antoine is to be commended for his calm demeanor and influence.”
Smith-Rouse is also an active member of the community — something he thinks is important and he encourages others to do.
“I feel like 2020 caused individuals to look at a lot of things in different ways,” he said. “That’s caused a lot of self-reflection.I kind of realized I was really quick to complain about something or say I didn’t like something on social media, but I wasn’t doing anything to make a change or make a difference. I made a vow — it’s okay to not agree with everyone … but do something to make a difference. Ultimately if we want to see a difference made, it starts with us.”
