Councilman claims racist Facebook post was really a hacker. Gautier says prove it or resign.
Editor’s note: Promotional text in this story misnamed Gautier city councilman Rusty Anderson. The error has been corrected.
City leaders are publicly condemning a racist Facebook post on the page of Gautier Councilman Rusty Anderson’s account.
Anderson denied making the offensive post that included the use of the n-word, saying instead that someone had hacked into his account to post the message.
The racially-charged post followed a report about video of a shooting incident shared by ABC news.
“I’m sick of these hateful crap,” the post said in part. “They’ve been given a free ride north an(d) many other areas and think now they can just shoot (up) any place they want.”
The post also includes a derogatory comment about former President Barack Obama.
The Gautier mayor and council have called on Anderson to resign if he cannot prove that his Facebook account was hacked as he suggested and that someone other than himself posted the offensive remarks.
“While the Facebook post in question has not been authenticated, the language of the post is inappropriate and is in no way condoned by or affiliated with the Gautier City Council,” Mayor Casey Vaughan said in a release. “The post absolutely does not represent the views of the Gautier Council as a whole, the city employees , or our community.”
Ward 2 Councilman Richard Jackson, who is the fist Black resident to serve on the Gautier council, said the Facebook post under Anderson’s name “is offensive, hurtful, and appalling; however, that is not who we are as a Council, or who we are as a city.”
“The members of the Gautier City Council have worked well together to move this City forward,” said Jackson, who was elected to office in 2017.
“We are an inclusive community, and we value each member of our community, and its diversity.” Jackson said. “We, the Council, value every life and every person without regard to race, nationality, or sexual orientation. The purported actions of one person does not define who we are in this City. All are welcome here.”
Anderson has purportedly contacted Facebook to obtain proof that his account was hacked and that someone else made the offensive post.
City Manager Paula Yancey issued release on the incident Friday.
