It’s hard to imagine anything more racist and terrible than a banner that elevates the importance of one race above all others, which is why officials in Union City, California were so disturbed to see a “White Lives Matter” banner hung up at a busy intersection. The officials were baffled and horrified by the idea that anyone would suggest that it’s a good idea to single out any particular race and make the claim that their lives “matter.” And they made their feelings known in remarks to the public.
“The city is disgusted by this despicable act of vandalism that has occurred on the heels of the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol last week,” the city said in a statement, “and on the weekend of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday that celebrates the life and achievements of this important civil rights leader. This incident unfortunately shows how divisiveness at the national level can permeate even our community.”
It is shocking that such a banner would be put up in 2021. We can’t recall ever seeing such a divisive racial sentiment before. This is clearly Trump’s fault.
Mayor Carol Dutra-Vernaci said, “This is despicable and we removed it immediately.”
Human Resources Commission Chairman Kashmir Singh Shahi also weighed in: “This made me upset and I hope it’s an isolated incident as it does not reflect the community of my city, the city of Union City.”
City officials were quick to point out that the banner was “illegally placed” at the intersection, which of course goes without saying. You let something like this go, and next thing you turn around, you’d have racists painting “[Race] Lives Matter” on the streets of the city! It’s hard to think of anything more disgusting and inappropriate.
“I urge my community to stick together and don’t let anything happen that will put a stain on our society, and which is not at par with the standard of this great country, the United States of America,” Singh Shahi said. He also assured the public that Union City police were on “heightened alert to make sure racist incidences like this do not happen again in our community.”
Thank goodness!
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