Support the Demand that Salem City Councilperson Daniel Benjamin Step Down!

The following letter has been sent to Salem's Mayor and City Council by the local branch of the NAACP:

November 23, 2016

Mayor Peterson and members of Salem City Council,

We demand that you take every action within your power to condemn and censure councilor Daniel Benjamin, and that you insist that he resign from the Council.

            His action posting a blatantly outrageous and racist video on his Facebook page demonstrates his lack of fitness to serve as a representative of the people of Salem. No one could conceive of images of Black people being intentionally mowed down in the street by cars as anything other than racist. This is not a joke, especially given the history and current reality of violence experienced by Black Americans and people of color.

He has also posted on his Facebook page a virulently racist anti-Muslim tirade. This is yet more evidence that he has no intention of serving all the people of Salem.

            Salem must be a welcoming city for all people. A welcoming city does not have a city councilor who would so callously and violently demean entire groups of its residents.      

This is not just a matter you can consider as private because these were on his personal Facebook page. He is a public official, and the public has every right to hold him personally accountable for circulating a racist hate video no matter whether these were on a private or a public page.

            Recently Mayor Peterson posted a video declaring Salem to be a safe and welcoming city to all people. One way to demonstrate the truth of that sentiment is to demand councilor Benjamin’s resignation and to declare unequivocally that all public officials who represent the people of Salem be held to a high standard of inclusivity.

            This letter is signed by organizations representing people of color in Salem and white allies in the quest for Racial Justice in our city.

Signed:

Pastor Marilyn Williams, Benny Williams, Michael Chenault, Garrett Snedaker; Salem Keizer NAACP

Annalivia Palazzo-Angulo; Salem Keizer Coalition for Equality

Andrea Williams; Causa

Levi Herrera-Lopez; Mano a Mano Family Center

Salem Islamic Center

John Scott; Teacher

Paul Krissel, Deborah Abello, Nina Kulander, Bob Rossi; Racial Justice Organizing Committee