BRUNSWICK - Frustrated with Mayor Brad Brown's refusal to apologize for remarks about those who threw rocks and bottles at police July 5, a group of residents have started a petition drive to recall him.
Sonja Hawkins said she was insulted by Brown's characterization of the 500 people involved in a 2 a.m. melee July 5 as "hoodlums, drug addicts and drunkards."
Brown has steadfastly said that his criticism was directed only at those who broke the law and that he would consider apologizing if those who burned two police cars surrendered to police.
Hawkins and others say they interpreted Brown's statements in an Atlanta Journal- Constitution article as intended for the entire black community that surrounding the area where the confrontation occurred.
"He walked the projects to get votes. He went in the black churches to get votes. He got all our votes then it's like a slap in our face," Hawkins said of Brown.
Hawkins characterized Brown as a racist at heart and said, "What's on the inside is coming out."
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Brunswick residents Gary Cook (left) and James Brooks attend Wednesday night's city commission meeting in Brunswick. They were among about 70 residents who attended the meeting to show that they want Mayor Brown ousted.
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About 70 African-Americans attended the City Commission meeting Wednesday night although they were not on the agenda and not allowed to speak. Those who could get inside the meeting room listened politely as the City Commission discussed its budget, honored a firefighter and discussed bike trails.
Burnette Fulton Sr., the owner of a transportation company who organized a peace and unity march Monday and began the petition drive, knew beforehand he would not be allowed on the agenda and he told the crowd to remain calm.
"We can't get on the agenda until Aug. 2," he told the crowd. "We're going to respect their wishes. We're not going to give any problems."
James Myers was incredulous that city commissioners would not hear from the residents.
"This should be the most significant item on the agenda," Myers said. "They're trying to put it on the back burner."
But as the 30 people sat in the commission chambers and in a hallway, more people were outside standing in line to sign a petition to initiate a recall and waiting their turns to go inside.
''We've got a purpose and agenda,'' Fulton told one woman. ''If we do the right things we'll get there.''
Gary Cook, who has long organized programs for children in public housing, said he will keep demanding Brown's resignation until he is gone and is encouraging people to pass on Brown's message in a way that hurts.
"I encourage everybody with a computer to get on line and label Brunswick a hoodlum-ridden, drug-ridden town with prostitutes that's not safe for tourists," he said.
David Tyre, who works in environmental services at Southeast Georgia Regional Medical Center, said he was troubled by Brown's characterization of many people in the neighborhood as working in housekeeping jobs.
"If it wasn't for some of us, these businesses wouldn't be around here," Tyre said. "I work every day. People work hard in this world. We pay taxes like everybody else."
