Prolific social media commentator asked to resign from East Side council in St. Paul due to online comments

Jul. 29—Management consultant Raj Beekie is a prolific contributor to online discussion boards such as LinkedIn, Next Door and Disqus.com, where readers regularly debate news from the TwinCities.com website.

His name often appears in the comments section after news articles. Unlikely many other participants, however, he posts using his real identity and generally avoids name-calling and off-color personal attacks on other commentators, even when his criticism is rather pointed. Elected officials, however, are fair game.

In response to a recent news article about DFL state Rep. John Thompson's legal troubles, Beekie wrote: "He uses race like that card you never leave home without. It is always ready to be whipped out."

In September 2020, he responded to a New York Times article on TwinCities.com about Black beer brewers by writing, "Dear White People, please don't give any money to black people or any person of color to start a brewery or anything to do with alcohol. In 20 years when we are talking about addiction, domestic violence, etc. in the people of color community you will be blamed for funding these business ventures."

On St. Paul's East Side, members of the District 1 Council/Southeast Community Organization have apparently read enough.

Beekie, who was re-elected to a two-year term on the neighborhood board in April, was asked to resign "for posts I have made on this very forum," he said, in an online post in mid-July. "I declined the kind offer. I told them the board will have to fire me. Next week, they will vote on my removal from the board. I do not have alliances with board members, so I fully expect them to go along with the recommendations of the executive council."

On Tuesday night, the neighborhood district council gathered to do just that. Beekie was removed from the board by a vote of 9 to 1.

"This was a difficult decision for the board to make and one that we don't take lightly," said Laurie Siever, board president, in a written statement. "We are an organization that thrives on diversity of thought, but not at the cost of mutual respect for community members, board members or the district council as a whole."

Some of Beekie's fans have questioned whether the district council overstepped its bounds. The council is one of 17 nonprofit neighborhood organizations funded by the city of St. Paul through public grants and contracts. Each operates with the express goal of building a local sense of community and serving as a sounding board for zoning and development issues. While board elections can be contentious, mid-term ousters throughout the city are a rarity.

Board members have referred all questions to the board president and the Southeast Community Organization's official written statement. In it, the district council indicated Beekie's removal was done "in accordance with the organization's bylaws," which indicate that board members must not perform acts that cause harm to the organization, its directors or its staff.

The district council noted that Beekie was guilty of "Code of Conduct" violations related to cooperating with and respecting the opinions of fellow board members, leaving personal prejudices out of all board discussions, supporting all majority decisions of the board and representing the organization in a positive and supportive manner at all times. Other rules include refraining from criticizing fellow board members outside of the board room.

Included with the statement were screenshots of his online banter on the Disqus.com discussion boards and other forums. "Here is a funny," Beekie wrote, just prior to his re-election in April. "I do think I am thoughtful and logical. However, when I listen to current board members I do believe I am completely nuts. We think so differently it is scary. I just came out of a board meeting and it appears they all think capping rent is a great thing. I am thinking, am I completely nuts to think this is a bad idea?"

Most of Beekie's online posts are not particularly cheeky. His Twitter feed mostly links to his written meditations on LinkedIn.com, where he talks up the life lessons he's discovered from gardening, the joys of teaching business management and how best to navigate corporate America. Every now and then, however, his online presence has ventured into sensitive territory.

"For more blacks to have greater success in America, white enablers have got to stop feeling guilty and stop offering their misguided help," said Beekie, in a March 2, 2018 post on LinkedIn. "To me, there is a level of arrogance and paternalism associated with this help. ... For blacks, instead of blaming the white man, do what regular people have done to become successful and you will be successful as well. It is that simple."

More recently, Beekie wrote, "Most liberals see America as plagued with white privilege, systemic racism, etc. These prevent BIPOCs from succeeding. I see this as crazy talk. I put my removal from the board in the echo chamber category."

A week ago, a fellow online commentator suggested to Beekie that he not post under his real name. Beekie responded, "I want to be a part of the honest conversations. There are few honest conversations about race, privilege, poverty, etc. in society. Also, I know there is a child in me. If I use a pseudonym, I am sure I will become a troll or post some sarcastic things every now and then. So, by default my real name helps to keep the conversations thoughtful and kind."