Mayor in Mississippi receives death threats after George Floyd comments, but won't resign
Lici Beveridge Mississippi Clarion LedgerPETAL, Miss. -- Petal Mayor Hal Marx apologized Saturday that comments he made have caused so much pain to the city he leads and its people, but he denied his comments were racist, and said he won't resign.
"I admit that my comments on the recent tragic death of George Floyd in Minnesota were made in haste and not well-thought out or expressed," he said. "Because of this, my words were taken out of the context in which they were meant. For that, I apologize.
"I apologize to those who found them to be insensitive, and I apologize to the people of our city."
The mayor affirmed he would continue in office in an exclusive interview with the Hattiesburg American, also a part of the USA TODAY Network.
"I will not resign," he said from his home. "The people elected me to serve until July 1, 2021. I cannot resign over something which I did not do. I did not make racist comments and I have not mistreated anyone."
Marx's comments earlier this week on Facebook and Twitter about Floyd's death drew local protest, and even national media attention.
"If you can say you can’t breathe, you’re breathing," Marx wrote. "Most likely that man died of overdose or heart attack. Video doesn’t show his resistance that got him in that position. Police being crucified."
The tweet and his account have since been deleted. The Facebook post was shared only to friends, but screen shots of what he said are circulating on social networking sites.
The comments prompted a storm on social media. Marx and his family also began receiving threats of violence and even death, he said.
He said he was dismayed and surprised by the city aldermen's lack of support for him, since some of them share his views.
"My greatest disappointment over the last three days has been in our Board of Aldermen," he said. "Instead of simply saying they disagreed with my comments, they have allowed me to be subjected to the horrible slander of being called a racist, all the time knowing that is not the truth."
Marx said he regrets making the statement as it was written, but no one from the Board of Aldermen has said they found his words offensive in the past, even though they said Thursday in a censure of the mayor that some of his prior posts have been equally offensive.
"During my time as a public official, I have frequently used social media to comment on issues and events affecting our city, state, nation and world," he said, reading from a statement before answering questions. "Some were simply meant as personal viewpoints, others were made to express my policy views and political opinions … not everyone, of course, agrees with me on my opinions and that's what our nation is supposed to be about. The freedom to have and express one's opinion without fear or retribution."
Aldermen also passed a resolution at a special meeting Thursday asking, like others, for the mayor to resign.
Before Thursday's aldermen meeting was called, protests were planned for Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Petal City Hall. The protests have so far been mostly peaceful as people stood or sat in the hot sun, calling for justice for Floyd's death, but also for Marx's resignation.
Some protesters later showed up at Marx's house Friday and Saturday as police and others watched.
"He's not at City Hall, he's here," protester Anthony Dunn said. "I'm going to make him feel as uncomfortable as (George Floyd) felt."
Dunn said he feels the comment Marx made shows his true character.
"When you're in a position (of authority) and you make such an insensitive statement, it says a lot about them," he said. "I'm here because I don't feel he represents the city of Petal. I am angry not only with his sensitivity, but with his cockiness of saying what you're not going to do (as in resign).
"Resign and everything will be fine. But until then, if I have to come out here day to day, that's what I'm going to do. You messed up. You had a chance to apologize but you didn't. You're human. Everybody makes mistakes. I completely understand that."
Dunn carried a gun on his hip while standing outside the mayor's house. He said it was for his personal protection. Mississippi law allows open carry of firearms without a permit.
"When we came (Friday), the majority of the residents were welcoming," he said. "There was a couple that would come out and say they were idiots. That leads me to believe I've got to protect myself."
Marx's wife Mindy also spoke with the Hattiesburg American. She said her family is now living in fear. Their children, who have also received threats, have been told to stay away from the family home.
"I think that it is absolutely ridiculous that our family is being targeted," she said. "Life as we knew it a couple days ago will never return. I don't think we will ever feel as safe. Where are we going to go? We are safer here than anywhere. I don't trust anybody at this point.
"Having protesters in front of your house with a gun on their hip saying that your wife has to pay for what you did, I think that it is absolutely ridiculous."
Mindy Marx's place of employment in Ellisville was threatened and police had to monitor the area in case the threat was realized.
"We don't deserve this kind of attention," Hal Marx said.
Contact Lici Beveridge at 601-584-3104 or lbeveridge@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @licibev or Facebook at facebook.com/licibeveridge.
Via PakapNews