DECATUR, Ala. — The public comment portion of Monday's work session of the Decatur City Council was led by questions regarding allegedly offensive signs with racist rhetoric and references seen among town over the weekend.
On Sunday, Council President Jacob Ladner posted the following statement to his Facebook page:
"It was brought to my attention this afternoon that a banner was placed along the new overpass entering Decatur on HWY 20. This banner espoused racist, white supremacist rhetoric. I am not going to post a picture of the banner because it also contained a link to an online group that is apparently responsible for this, and I do not want to legitimize a group with very few followers and the inability to spell the word “and”.
"There is no place in the City of Decatur, Morgan County, the state of Alabama, the United States of America, or planet earth for this type of thinking and bigotry. We are all created in the image of God. Racism of all kind should anger us, as it angers our Creator, and we should work together to eradicate it.
"The banner was removed quickly, but I apologize to anyone who happened to see it while traveling along HWY 20. We should all be united in standing against bigotry and hatred."
Ladner later confirmed with FOX54 that the banner read in part, "White men built our city; white men will save our city."
A resident replied to Ladner's post complaining about a similar sign seen beside railroad tracks near the Old State Bank. This spray-painted sign reads, "We Dare to Defend Our Rights," and includes a web address connected to a group that identifies itself as "an organization of American nationalists." The same group is tagged as white supremacist extremists by the Anti-Defamation League.
A third party apparently added their own commentary on the painted sign, scribbling out the word "Dare" and adding as an aside, "No you don't."
Ladner said at the council meeting that the railroad upon which the graffiti was placed has been notified and that he hopes work to remove the painted sign will begin soon.
When asked if Decatur Police will "put the same energy" into arresting those responsible as Steve Perkins shooting-related protestors, Ladner replied, "I think all energy that we can give to that situation needs to be given to it, and it ought to be prosecuted at the highest level."
The rest of the council present echoed Ladner's condemnation of the signs. Billy Jackson attended the meeting remotely and Mayor Tab Bowling left as has been custom during public comment portions.
Hunter Pepper said he found the banner hung over the overpass "disgusting and disgraceful" and hopes that vandalism charges are levied against those responsible.