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August 3, 2009

City Attorney's Racially Charged Remarks About Baywalk

St. Petersburg - It has been glaringly apparent from the beginning of the proposal to privatize the sidewalk in front of Baywalk that the city of St. Petersburg is targeting people based on their political affiliation and expression. What has been less obvious, but surely more insidious, is how race also plays a factor in the situation. 

"He referred to not wanting to go down with his kids or himself because he didn't feel safe or comfortable there 'cause he didn't want to be hanging out downtown with the bro's." They also say he told them he didn't want to be around people who were "jiving".  READ STORY & WATCH VIDEO

In recent public conversations, a city attorney repeatedly made apparent racist remarks such as not wanting to be "hanging with the bros" or to be around people who were "jiving" when he goes to Baywalk.  We believe this sheds more light on the city's intentions with regards to the Baywalk issue.   These comments and the use of terms such as "thugs" and "loiterers" are nothing more than thinly veiled attacks on black youth.  We call on the city and certain media to be open about their motivations and intentions and not hide behind racial euphemisms.

Trying to deny people with opposing views the right to constitutionally protected free speech, and trying to deny people of color equal access to public or private facilities is a relic of an undemocratic and racist past. It is our hope that our city will move past outdated ideologies of racial superiority, recognize difference as something that contributes to all of our humanity, and value rather than criminalize the efforts made by people of conscience to make this a more just and peaceful world.


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