The mayor of North Charleston, Mayor Keith Summey plans on announcing his endorsement for Donald Trump today. Keith Summey recently won a heated and controversial mayoral election. During the election, citizens had even demanded that he step down as mayor after video of Walter Scott was released to the public showing North Charleston Police officer Michael Slager, shooting Scott in the back. Citizens were concerned had it not been for the video evidence, city officials and police would have attempted to cover-up the killing. Summey had a challenging year in the City of North Charleston fighting accusations of racism, nepotism, and misappropriation of city funds; however, the people of North Charleston re-elected the mayor who is now the longest sitting mayor in South Carolina.
Today, Mayor Keith Summey has gotten past most of this controversy, and according to the Post & Courier, the mayor will be endorsing Donald Trump for President in Saturday’s Republican primary. Summey will be meeting with Trump this afternoon to confirm his support.
What makes this interesting is that the mayor of a city that is predominately people of color could possibly endorse someone who has made blatantly racists and outlandish statements about Blacks and Hispanics. According to the U.S. Census, the city of North Charleston has a black population of 47.2% and a hispanic population of 10.9%, making this city predominately people of color. Yet, the mayor of this city is slated to endorse a presidential candidate who has made the following statements:
- Trump has blamed Blacks and Hispanics for violent crime in the U.S. Trump said: “Sadly, the overwhelming amount of violent crime in our major cities is committed by blacks and hispanics-a tough subject-must be discussed.”— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 5, 2013
- He has called Latinos criminals and rapists
- He claims that Mexico is sending criminals to the US on purpose.
- After his followers beat up a hispanic man at a rally, Trump stated they were just “passionate”
Feel free to check out the rest of some of Mr. Trump’s most outlandish statements here.
Even Keith Summey’s son doesn’t agree with his endorsement according to this comment left in the Post & Courier’s Facebook Page:
With the city of North Charleston being the third largest city in the state, the Mayor’s support of Trump is a major win for the Trump candidacy. Summey can have a huge influence over his voters who will give Trump the votes he will need to win in the state of S.C.
South Carolina’s governor, Nikki Haley even took a jab at Donald Trump in her State of the State Address. In her speech, she said:
“During anxious times, it can be tempting to follow the siren call of the angriest voices,” Haley said from the governor’s residence in Columbia. “We must resist that temptation. No one who is willing to work hard, abide by our laws, and love our traditions should ever feel unwelcome in this country.”
Though, she didn’t mention Trump by name, it was clear that she would not be endorsing him.
With this being said Mayor Summey – what the hell are you thinking? As we watched you sing church hymns with the Royal Baptist Church Men’s choir during your swearing in, you appeared as if you were trying to unite your city – or was that just an act (shucking & jiving). Mr. Mayor, an endorsement for Trump is a clear sign to the majority of your tax-paying residents that you share the same sentiments as Donald Trump. An endorsement for Trump means that it is very possible that if you share those sentiments, then your city’s police officers also share the same views when it comes to Blacks and Latinos in the city of North Charleston. So the next time a Black or Latino gets pulled over in the city of North Charleston, should we expect that our mayor and his employees will automatically assume that we are criminals? Should people of color in North Charleston, S.C. be concerned about your ideas, your values and your views of people of color? As a tax-payer and resident of North Charleston, I am highly disappointed that you have made such a poor choice. Any one who had a hand in re-electing you made a huge mistake – glad you didn’t get my vote.
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