Some Robeson County commissioners considered censuring the board’s chairman, David Edge, for sharing a social media post that called President Barack Obama “a Black racist queer.”
But they decided not to officially reprimand Edge because he apologized during a public meeting on Monday, Commissioner Wixie Stephens told the Border Belt Independent.
“What else can you do if he asks for forgiveness, other than forgive those that trespass against you?” Stephens said. “That’s my belief.”
Edge posted a meme in April with a picture of Obama and the words, “A Black racist queer was president for 8 years and not one crazy redneck Republican ever took a shot at him.” The post appeared on Edge’s Facebook page shortly after a gunman attempted to enter the White House correspondents’ dinner on April 24.
In a statement on Facebook on April 29, Edge said he did not create the meme but wanted to hear other people’s opinions about it. He said during a May 18 commissioners’ meeting that he was not racist.
“These claims do not reflect who I am or the life I have lived,” he said. “In my 73 years, there has never been any record or behavior to support such allegations.”
More than 400 people signed a petition calling for Edge to resign, said John Campbell, leader of the local group Concerned Citizens for Better Government. Some encouraged a boycott of Edge’s business, Image Supply, which sells industrial supplies.
Commissioners planned to discuss a possible censure of Edge at their Monday meeting this week, according to a document obtained by Campbell and shared with the Border Belt Independent.
Stephens declined to say who spearheaded the plan to censure Edge, but she said most commissioners supported the move.
Residents and commissioners worried that Edge’s comments would hurt Robeson County’s reputation, according to the notice of intent. Some board members thought a censure would “diminish similar speech” and “reduce the negative impact on the county and the county’s economic development.”
But Edge, a Republican who is running for reelection in November, apologized during Monday’s meeting.
“I represent all the people of Robeson County. I’ve learned to love the people of Robeson County,” Edge said, The Robesonian reported. “It has come to my attention that a statement that I posted has been offensive to several people. I apologize for being offensive to anyone, and I say I’m sorry.”
The board did not discuss a possible censure, which left Campbell disappointed. He said Edge’s apology wasn’t enough.
“It’s one thing to forgive somebody, but to trust them with leadership–that’s a different thing,” he said. “There are no consequences to the choice that he made to distribute devices and derogatory communication that undermined the trust of the citizens of Robeson County.”