A Charlotte County, Florida, commissioner has acknowledged he used the N-word in a dialog with a Black county official, claiming he believed the slur was a time period of endearment and meant no offense.
The criticism was filed by D’Juan Harris, govt director of the county’s Metropolitan Planning Group. An investigation was carried out in January by an unbiased legislation agency which discovered Stephen Deutsch used the N-word whereas the 2 have been assembly.
Harris instructed investigators the 2 males have been discussing the 2024 presidential election when Deutsch, a Republican, relayed a narrative from his childhood, “saying that when he was a baby, his childhood pal’s mom would name for her son by calling him” the N-word.
Harris mentioned he instructed Deutsch to cease utilizing the time period.
Deutsch’s bio signifies he grew up within the early Nineteen Sixties, when civil rights protesters throughout the South have been met with racist resistance. If he ever watched the information, he would’ve recognized the N-word was something however a genteel colloquialism.
The inner investigation discovered Deutsch violated county coverage by partaking in offensive conduct. The report recommends Deutsch face a public reprimand.
However at their Thursday assembly, a few of his fellow commissioners referred to as on Deutsch to resign.
“Such actions will not be tolerated below any circumstances,” mentioned Commissioner Invoice Truex. “It brings disgrace to this complete board, and it’ll not be tolerated.”
Commissioner Ken Doherty agreed, saying he would resign if he have been in Deutsch’s place.
Richard Patrick, the vp of the Charlotte County NAACP, additionally referred to as on Deutsch to step down.
“Fee Deutsch’s actions have been reprehensible, and his actions and conduct can’t be condoned however must be met with the harshest punishment potential,” Patrick mentioned.
Deutsch, in his first public feedback on the controversy, provided a non-apology apology favored by public figures each time they’re caught doing one thing improper.
“The assertion I shared with him, I in all probability mustn’t have, clearly, looking back,” he mentioned.
Addressing using the racial slur, Deutsch acknowledged, “I shouldn’t have accomplished that.”
He instructed the fee he had no plans to resign. Deutsch must full necessary on-site coaching earlier than the subsequent fee assembly.
