A Georgia city rescinded a proclamation to declare April Confederate History Month after a racial slur was used to defend the measure.
The Griffin City Commission made the decision after several people spoke out against the proclamation during Tuesday night’s meeting, according to Channel 2 Action News.
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“We know that the Civil War happened,” Griffin City Commissioner Rodney McCord said. “There were two sides to that story, but we also know that we are not going to stand up on the side of hatred.”
The reversal comes two weeks after the board issued the proclamation. After McCord voiced his opposition to the measure, former City Commissioner Larry Johnson used a racial slur during the public comment portion of the March 27 meeting, according to Channel 2.
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“I told you at that time that there were white folks and black folks when I was growing up,” Johnson could be heard saying in a YouTube video of the meeting. “There was white trash, my family and there was ‘(racial slur)-town.’”
The comments sparked outrage online and at Tuesday night’s meeting.
A woman addressed Griffin Commission Chairman Douglas Hollberg.
“By not shutting Mr. Johnson down the first time he uttered a racial slur, Mr. Hollberg, you appeared to support Mr. Johnson's ideas,” she said.
Still, Mike Laster, a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, spoke out against the decision to rescind the proclamation, Channel 2 reported.
“It's observing a Memorial Day,” Lester said. “Men died 150 years ago.”
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