Officials in a northern California city on Saturday ordered the removal of a “White Lives” banner that was posted on city properties, declaring it “racist” and a “despicable act of vandalism”.
The incident occurred in Union City, a city of about 75,000, about 20 miles south of Oakland.
“The city is disgusted by this despicable act of vandalism that took place in the wake of the US Capitol insurrection last week,” said a city statement, according to Bay Area FOX 2, “and Martin’s weekend Luther King Jr. holiday that celebrates the life and achievements of this important civil rights leader. “
The white strip with black letters was hung between two posts at a busy intersection in the city, but was removed shortly after city officials became aware of it, with a report made to the police, Bay Area KPIX-TV reported.
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Mayor Carol Dutra-Vernaci and the chairman of the Human Resources Commission, Kashmir Singh Shahi, also denounced the banner in a video posted online.
“This is negligible and we removed it immediately,” says the mayor in the video, referring to the banner.
“It upset me and I hope it is an isolated incident as it does not reflect the community of my city, the city of Union City,” said Shahi.
“This incident unfortunately shows how division at the national level can permeate even our community,” added the city’s statement, according to FOX 2.
Advocacy groups, including the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center, described “White Lives Matter” as a white supremacist slogan adopted in response to the Black Lives Matter movement, the East Bay Times reported.
Earlier this month, Proud Boys leader Henry “Enrique” Tarrio pleaded not guilty to charges of burning a “Black Lives Matter” banner in Washington, DC, in December.
Tarrio was released on his own bail and ordered to stay out of Washington until his next scheduled court hearing on June 8.
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In June, President Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reportedly ordered the removal of a “Black Lives Matter” banner outside the United States Embassy in South Korea that was posted shortly after George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis on 25 of May.
The banner was posted by Harry Harris, the U.S. ambassador appointed by Trump to South Korea.
Michael Ruiz and Jake Gibson of Fox News contributed to this story.