The mayor of a small town in Virginia is being forced to resign after a Facebook post in which he announced Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden claimed “Aunt Jemima just” as his running mate.
Luray Mayor Barry Presgraves made the comments last weekend and has since suffered a bitter setback from the Luray Town Council as well as other residents who characterized his post as racist.
Presgraves has since resigned and apologized Monday at a city council meeting.
“I understand what I posted on social media was wrong, insulting and incomprehensible,” Presgraves said.
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Reading from a prepared statement, he added, “I also want to make a direct apology to all people of color and woman. Going on and wearing racist stereotypes as humor is not funny.”
Luray Mayor Barry Presgraves under fire for comments from Biden (Town of Luray)
Luray councilor Leah Pence believes his apology is not enough and has sent Presgraves a letter to step down.
“Barry – I am writing to urge you strongly to apologize for any racist remark you made on Facebook,” the letter states. “The comment you posted has a kind of humor that [has] not suitable or funny in my life like you. “
Residents in the 5,000-man city also took Presgraves to task.
“Barry Presgraves, Good … It’s very disappointing that the mayor of Luray would go to this LEVEL!”, Posted longtime resident Audrey Tutt Smith. “I never respond to RACIAL comments … but this one is pretty low.”
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Before the city council meeting, the 77-year-old mayor told the Page Valley News that his actions were a “mistake” but still held to the belief that he had done nothing wrong.
“I thought it was funny … I thought it was humorous. I had no idea people reacted the way they did,” he told the newscast. “If I had the chance to do it over, I would not do it.”
When asked if he would resign, Presgraves replied with a heartfelt “hell no.”
“People chose me and I have a few more months to serve,” he said.
Presgraves’ term ends Dec. 31.
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Biden announced Tuesday that he had chosen senior Kamala Harris, D-Calif., As his running mate. Harris is the first Black woman and the first Asian American woman to be vice president on a main party card.
In June, Quaker Oats announced that it would retire its Aunt Jemima brand and logo, acknowledging that its origins were based on a racist stereotype.
