A Michigan official used the N-word when asked why he wasn't wearing a mask. Then he doubled down with more racial slurs. - CBS News
Category: News & Politics
Via: john-russell • 4 years ago • 15 commentsBy: Caitlin O'Kane (CBSNews)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
By Caitlin O'Kane
August 7, 2020 / 1:11 PM / CBS News
A county official in Michigan used a racial slur at a public meeting and later said in an interview that he did not regret it. Now several officials, including the state's governor, are calling for him to resign.
Leelanau County Road Commissioner Tom Eckerle was asked before a Road Commission meeting on Tuesday why he was not wearing a mask. According to local reports, Eckerle responded by saying: "Well this whole thing is because of them n***** down in Detroit."
Road Commission Chairman Bob Joyce quickly responded, telling Eckerle he couldn't say that, according to the Leelanau Enterprise, which first reported on the story.
Eckerle doubled down on his use of the racial slur when asked during an interview if he regretted it. "No, I don't regret calling it an n*****," he told Interlochen Public Radio on Thursday. "A n***** is a n***** is a n*****. That's not a person whatsoever." He said he will not resign from the road commission, the radio station reports.
Several officials in the state have called for Eckerle to resign, including Michigan Public Service Commission Chair Dan Scripps. Republican State Rep. Jack O'Malley also said that after learning about the incident he asked Eckerle to resign, but he refused.
"I called Mr. Eckerle to confirm he made these comments. He confirmed that he did," O'Malley said in a statement. O'Malley represents Michigan's House District 101, which includes Leelanau County.
In a Facebook post, O'Malley shared a link to his official statement, adding that Eckerle "is in the early part of an elected six year term. If he refuses to resign there are 2 options that I am aware of. The citizens can petition for a recall, or, the County Board can request that the Governor remove him."
"In today's emotional and highly charged climate to say what he said is ignorant and has no place, especially as an elected official," O'Malley's post continued. "I did remind him he represents everyone in Leelanau County as I do.... and his comments were and are beyond stupid. I hope Mr. Eckerle can come to see his mistakes and resign."
Governor Gretchen Whitmer also believes Eckerle must resign immediately. "His comments are atrocious," the governor's press secretary, Tiffany Brown, said in an email to CBS News on Friday. "The Governor has been very clear — there's no place for hate and racism in Michigan."
The Leelanau County Road Commission also put out a letter, asking for Eckerle to resign. The letter, signed commission's chair, vice chair and two members, said they do not condone the racist comments and they will not tolerate "any kind of racism in our meeting room or in our organization."
CBS News has reached out to the county road commission for comment, as well as contact information for Eckerle, and is awaiting response.
Eckerle's use of a racist slur during a public meeting came the same week Whitmer signed an executive directive declaring racism as a public health crisis in Michigan on Wednesday, according to CBS Detroit affiliate WWJ. Coronavirus has disproportionately affected Black communities in Michigan and elsewhere across the U.S.
"#COVID19 has highlighted what Black & Brown communities have always known — inequities caused by systemic racism can be deadly. We're confronting this head on," Whitmer tweeted on Wednesday.
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I thought racism had disappeared in Michigan.
It (racism) has not disappeared anywhere. Trump has made it acceptable.
If a county official uses the n word, imagine how many tens of thousands of regular white folks in Michigan do too?
Overheard on a podcast
Counting adults and teenagers , there is upwards of 250 million in the US. I have very little doubt that more than 25% harbor some level of racism. Half would be closer to it.
I have known many people of various minorities over the decades and have always gotten along with them, and even dated a few of them.
I don't judge people by the color of their skin, but by the kind the person they are. That's the way I was brought up.
But other than that, I haven't counted any of them as close friends and associates
Does that rise to some "level of racism", is it due to the fact they most of us feel more comfortable with our own "kind" or tribe.
IMHO, not feeling 'comfortable' with minorities because you don't view them as your 'own kind' or part of your 'tribe' is most definitely 'some level of racism'.
[Deleted]
IMNAAHO, this level of racism is in our genes. It goes all the way back to the African plains, when "defending my tribe" was a survival traiit.
Because we are intelligent, we are capable of surmounting a tendency that we consider completely out-of-date.
... but sometimes I wonder if we're intelligent...
So you think that Trump voters will abandon him?
What I find interesting here is the way the guy doubles down. He's got some pretty heavy hitters telling him to resign.
Instead of apologizing, he laid down another layer of ugliness.
What on earth is going on in his head?
What on earth is going on in his head?
Nothing. Zero.
Wonder if he carries a sheet with him at all times.