Posted on 03/02/2006 4:18:16 PM PST by LouAvul
Will O'Bryant said Wednesday that he's not a racist, never has been and was stunned when he was accused of being one the night before during a Modesto City Council meeting.
"I'm not a racist," the councilman said. "I used a phrase I have used for years, and I'm sorry they misinterpreted it. I've been very conscientious while representing the people of Modesto."
O'Bryant was referring to his use of "you people" at the close of the meeting Tuesday night as the council was preparing to vote on New Bethany Baptist Church's request to build a 300-seat auditorium. The church has a predominantly black congregation.
After speaking to the council for 10 minutes on why New Bethany should be exempt from the city code requiring the church to provide off-street parking for its auditorium, one speaker said she never had seen the city act more biased against a project.
The speaker identified herself as Anita, a member of New Bethany. The Rev. Charles Ray Evins II said Wednesday that he could not disclose the woman's last name but that she remained distressed by Tuesday's events.
She then challenged O'Bryant to explain why the council and staff treated the church unfairly.
O'Bryant noted it was the third time the group had come to the council for a waiver and "each and every time we have tried to help you. I don't think that anybody … can say we were unfair … and the first time you people came to us and presented …"
At that point, Anita yelled at O'Bryant that it was demeaning to be called "you people" and walked out of the chamber. She was joined by others who had come to support the church, and they complained loudly as they left.
(Excerpt) Read more at modbee.com ...
Yous guys, you'ns, ya'll, you people, ya's, etc. They mean the same. From now on he should call each by his or her own name. A fifteen hour council meeting.
I refer to elite liberal snobs as those people....it's not racial.....it's punctuating the obvious!
What people would that be, Mr. Gordon?
- Congressman William J. Jefferson, Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Oct. 23, 2003.
What people, Congressman Jefferson?
Well you've got your chocolate people, vanilla people, strawberry people, banana people and of course your ovaltine people.
Damn. I've now got a hankering for a malt. BBL
How about us spaghetti people? I feel so excluded!
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