Washington council members do not issue apology for perceived racist comments

WASHINGTON - Council members who made perceivable racist comments regarding Black Lives Matter did not apologize for their remarks at Tuesday night's meeting.

At the city council meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 4, member Fran Stigers referred to Black Lives Matter as 'a domestic terrorist group.” Council member Steven Gault used the phrase 'gangbangers” and said race problems are brought into the city through inner-cities.

Multiple members of the public were present at the meeting to show support for Stigers and Gault, while other members condemned their comments.

Bethany Glinsmann, of Washington, spoke to council about a newly formed grassroots organization, Washington for Justice. Glinsmann said the organization was formed in response to the comments made at the previous meeting and has about 150 members.

A petition has been created to call for an apology and the formal resignation of the two council members. So far, it has garnered more than 225 signatures.

Washington resident Rick Conrad was one of many who defended the council members statements, and said he did not feel either of them were racist. Conrad went on to say he agreed with Stigers that Black Lives Matter is a domestic terrorist group and those who say they are seeking justice for Black ancestors due to slavery should 'get over it.”

Stigers addressed the terrorist comment by saying he feels it is a domestic terrorist group according to the FBI's guidelines. He apologized for the way the comments were published, but not for the comments themselves.

Belittling comments have been made about him on social media, he said, an act which he finds cowardly.

'If you don't live here you don't have a say in what happens here,” he said.

Stigers said he was notified of the request for the speaker four days before it was presented to the council and was not given ample time to research what the speaker would cover.

Council member Danielle Pettit-Majewski said advanced notice is not typically given for events. Additionally, she noted she was excited for the request as she felt it was important to have these conversations.

Council member Youngquist said she believes in first amendment rights but was shocked by the words from her fellow council members and clarified the speaker, Kesho Scott, was not affiliated with Black Lives Matter but instead a college professor speaking on diversity.

Gault clarified he voted 'no” to the speaker because he felt Black Lives Matter was not a peaceful group. Multiple people supported his statements, he said, and reiterated his opinion that all lives matter.

'America should not differentiate one from another as every life matters,” he said.

No apology was given.