密歇根州哈珀·伍兹——底特律郊区的一名市长周五辞职,此前他被指控说他理解为什么人们会成为白人至上主义者。
肯·波因特是一名白人,自从他在与居民和哈珀·伍兹官员的私人会议上说了这番话后,就一直受到抨击。这个小城市已经成为抗议者的目标,他们想知道一名因毒品被捕入狱的黑人妇女6月份死亡的信息。
自1997年以来一直担任哈珀-伍兹市长的波因特说:“我热爱这座城市,热爱这里的员工,也热爱我见过的许多市民,所以我很遗憾辞去市长一职,向大家道别。”
在最近一次关于社会动乱的会议上,据在场的人,包括当地的学校负责人和代理城市经理说,波因特说他理解“为什么白人会成为白人至上主义者。”他们说他后来道歉了。
律师约翰·吉尔洛利(John Gillooly)代表纽约市政府说:“不幸的是,前市长波因特最近的言论没有也没有反映出城市管理部门、商业领袖和哈珀-伍兹市居民的价值观和信仰。”
与此同时,州警察正在调查普里西拉·斯莱特在狱中的死亡。6月,抗议者与波因特对峙,波因特回应说,“外部煽动者”让“一个真正好的和平统一的社区看起来非常糟糕。”
Detroit-area mayor quits after white supremacist remark
HARPER WOODS, Mich. -- A mayor in suburban Detroit resigned Friday after he was accused of saying he understood why people become white supremacists.
Ken Poynter, who is white, has been under fire since making the remark in a private meeting with residents and Harper Woods officials. The small city has been targeted by protesters who want information about the June death of a Black woman who was in jail after a drug arrest.
“I love this city, its employees, and the many citizens I have met, so it is with regret that I resign my position as mayor and say ‘farewell,'" said Poynter, who was Harper Woods' mayor since 1997.
During a recent meeting about civil unrest, Poynter said he understood “why white people would become white supremacists,” according to people who were present, including the local school superintendent and acting city manager. They said he later apologized.
"Unfortunately, recent comments made by former Mayor Poynter did not and do not reflect the values and beliefs of city administration, business leaders and residents of the city of Harper Woods," said attorney John Gillooly, speaking for city government.
State police, meanwhile, are investigating the jail death of Priscilla Slater. Protesters in June had confronted Poynter, who responded by saying “outside agitators” had made a “really good peacefully integrated community look extremely bad.”