A white Mississippi mayor is receiving backlash after tweeting insensitive comments amid the controversial death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, who died recently while in police custody after a white policeman kneeled on his neck for nine and a half minutes.
Hal Marx, the Republican mayor of Petal admits that his comments were not well thought out but he refuses to resign.
Lea Campbell, an activist who helped organize the march, said the mayor’s remarks were veiled racism that attempted to dehumanize and criminalize George Floyd instead of the real criminal, the police officer who murdered him.
At least 200 people rallied at Petal City Hall on Sunday, a third day of protests, demanding the mayor’s resignation.
“The citizens of Petal will accept nothing less than Hal Marx’s resignation,” Lea demanded.
