Durham City Councilwoman Takes Heat for Anti-State Violence Facebook Post

By Sameer Rao Jun 23, 2016

Durham, North Carolina, City Councilwoman Jillian Johnson refused to apologize for a Facebook post in which she criticized state violence by armed police officers and soldiers.

According to Raleigh’s The News & Observer, Johnson published a now-private post to her Facebook page on Monday (June 20) in response to federal legislators’ call for gun control measures that would prevent people on terror watchlists from purchasing firearms. Her post addressed the racial implications behind such proposed measures:

I am all about keeping guns away from dangerous people, but I feel like more of us should be pointing out that the most dangerous people with guns are cops and soldiers, and that the no-fly list and FBI anti-terror efforts are seriously corrupted by entrapment, racial profiling and Islamophobia.

The post prompted citizens and law enforcement officials to call for her to apologize and resign. "It is a slap in the face of everyone that protects our city and our country," read a statement from the Durham County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 2. that was cited by The News & Observer. "While Ms. Johnson is entitled to her opinion, she is an elected official and should be held to a higher standard."

Johnson posted a clarification yesterday (June 22) that doubled down on her original argument and invited constructive conversation about gun control:

(H/t ABC News)

 

*Note: Post has been updated to reflect that, instead of deleting her initial Facebook post, Johnson made it private.