Columbia, S.C. mayoral candidate Steve Benjamin responded angrily to the spray-painting of racist graffiti on City Hall – vandalism that appears to have been referencing his bid to become the city’s first black mayor.
For our report on the incident, click here.
Here’s Benjamin’s statement (which was accompanied by a Wednesday afternoon press conference):
I was disgusted this morning to learn that what should be a symbol of inclusion in our representative democracy had been vandalized with bigotry and intolerance.
This incident was clearly designed to frighten and intimidate but it has had the opposite result.
This is exactly why we need a new leader who can unify all of us behind a new vision for Columbia, and I am now more than ever dedicated to that cause.
I have absolute faith that our city’s police force will identify and apprehend those responsible but, more importantly, I have faith that the people of Columbia will come together to reject this kind of illegal and unacceptable activity.
The challenges facing our city are as serious as the stakes are high. We cannot address them distracted by ignorance. We cannot overcome them if we are divided by hate.
We are one people. We are one Columbia. Only by coming together can we make this a city of vision, opportunity, and hope for all.
Interesting.
Obviously, nobody’s every called us a “n*gger” or spray-painted death threats against us on public buildings (that we know of), so attempting to put ourselves in Benjamin’s shoes is pointless.
Having said that, our thought is that the ideal comment in this situation is “no comment.”
Or maybe “Whatever.”
Or perhaps “Ain’t no thang but a chicken wang …”
Seriously, water off a duck’s back, you know?
Again, we’ve never been slurred before (at least not racially), but that’s just our two cents …
By Liberty For Me December 30, 2009 at 11:25 pm
I am disappointed in you Fits…I did not think you were politically correct.You can say fuck,but you cant say nigger??That is just so giving in to the whole problem.OOOHHH its taboo…whatever.
I am for Liberty for everyone and special privileges for none…For if someone receives special privilege others loose liberty.It is like Newton’s law of motion..To every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction.
To refrain from using a word is to give power to its meaning..thus making blacks more of a victim and whites a slave to some kind of bullshit guilt.For example he will get more votes from this not less.Not because of his ability..But because people now feel bad and want to prove something..Bullshit.Why do we not see all the other stereotypical names with asterisks?…Because they have been so used they have lost their power.
I am not condoning racism..I am trying to stop it and make everyone equal.Time to stop this bullshit and have true liberty and freedom of speech.
By namegame December 31, 2009 at 12:40 am
Racial hatred in South Carolina?!!! Who’d a thunk it?
Liberty for me is making sense. Freedom of speech is important. Racial arrogance is wrong, but you’ll get in trouble with a lot of people if you tell them that.
It doesn’t make sense to censor the racial epithet and let the f word go on with no problem. They’re both ugly words, unless the f word is used between 2 people who want to have sex. Then, it can be a beautiful thing. What I can’t understand is why those of the black persuasion often insist on calling each other the n word. Why would you call someone that without even thinking and if whitey or honky or whatever you call it would see the end of a career for saying that same word? Sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander, as someone wise once said. I guess hypocrisy is politically correct.
By T4 December 31, 2009 at 1:24 am
Hey Liberty, you’re an idiot.
By Cooter Brown December 31, 2009 at 7:32 am
Libertie iz dangerous an’ offensive, peoples.
Nee-jerk reactshun t’ mattas ov race asume dat th’ peoples ov colour in SC caint “git along” wit-out whitie’s protectshun. It suld be offensive t’ them that whitie thinks heeze got t’ protect ‘em frum the outrages ov livin in a free socitie!
I wish folks didnt act da fool, but dey does.
Dis shuld be seen fer whaut it iz– a propertie crime, naught a race crime or, betta yet, a thought crime…
By Huhhh??? December 31, 2009 at 10:40 am
Until the security camera footage is made public one really does not know what the political intent of the vandal was.