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 It is our hope that our city will move past outdated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. |
E-mail: info@stpeteforpeace.org
