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Update: PA Council Members Vote To Censure Mayor For Posting Racist Memes About President Obama

The pressure for Charles Wasko's resignation is stronger than ever.

Update:

The West York Council approved a motion at Monday night’s meeting to censure Mayor Charles Wasko, who has been posting racist Facebook memes depicted the Obama’s as apes.

“We will send a message to the mayor that his legislative body rebukes him in every way,” said council president Shawn Mauck. “He has embarrassed all of us. Not just this table but everyone in this room. Everyone in West York. Everyone in York County, everyone in this Commonwealth.”

During the meeting, the council also approved a motion to give the borough solicitor the authority to look into any legal means necessary to remove Wasko as mayor.

Mauck and the rest of the council strongly urged Wasko to resign as soon as possible.

Community members also spoke at the meeting and explained whether they agree with the motions.

“He is not just distasteful, he is dangerous,” said Carla Christopher, a member of Put People First, York County. “He is dangerous to Hispanics, he is dangerous to African-Americans. He is dangerous to women, to our Muslim friends and neighbors. ... He is dangerous to the economic stability and future of this borough.”

However, one community member did stand up for Wasko and his ability to speak freely, even if the content is offensive.

“If you start making rules and laws about what you can and cannot say where is it going to lead?” asked one man. “You gonna start punishing everyone because they don’t agree with what you think and believe?”

Wasko was not present for the meeting. 

Previous:

The mayor of a small Pennsylvania is being urged to resign after posting many offensive and racist photos and memes on his Facebook page.

For the last few months, West York Mayor Charles Wasko has posted offensive social media memes on his Facebook page. One of the most offensive and reported memes is an image of wagon full of orangutans with the caption “moving day at the White House has finally arrived.”

Another highly offensive post suggested that President Obama should be lynched. The meme showed a picture of Clint Eastwood holding up a noose in an old movie with the message, “Barry, this rope is for you. You wanna bring that empty chair over here!”

Now the Republican mayor is facing much pressure from local councilmen and residents to resign. Four out of the seven council members, two Democrat and two Republican, said they want Wasko out as mayor.

Additionally, the local NAACP chapter has been notified of his posts and released a statement.

“Now that York NAACP has been made aware, we will be seeking to take action, because his obvious bias against black people has an effect on all his constituents, which he seems to forget includes black people,” said Sandra Thompson, head of the NAACP chapter in nearby York.

Wasko has not made any public apologies for the memes. In fact, he has said that he will not be politically correct.

Council members plan to ask Wasko to resign at their next meeting on Monday.

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