MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Some residents of Manitowoc County are referring to a county supervisor as a racist.
They feel comments he recently made in public are embarrassing, and ignorant, and they want him to resign.
The swearing-in of Manitowoc’s first Black council member, Aaron Bailey, nearly overshadowed, ten minutes later.
“I was shocked,” Aaron Bailey, Manitowoc’s first Black alderman tells FOX 11.
“I just want the respect, just the respect and, what he did that night, on a historical night, I just think was classless, just tasteless.”
Bailey saying that about Manitowoc’s county board supervisor Don Zimmer’s comments Monday night.
“I condemn Black Lives Matter as a criminal organization, which throughout the nation, has promoted looting, rioting, destruction of property and physical attacks on law enforcement officers,” Zimmer said during public comment at the meeting.
Few agreed. Many were appalled.
“His statements that he gave that evening were ignorant; they were hateful,” city of Manitowoc alder Courtney Hansen said. “The fact that he chose to share those, following the swearing-in of our very first Black alderperson was extremely horrible.”
Zimmer spent nearly two minutes criticizing Black Lives Matter.
“Black Lives Matter never condemns black-on-black murder in Milwaukee or Chicago, where Black gangs warring on each other manage often to kill innocent Black children caught in their murderous crossfire.”
Zimmer says the movement’s primary goal is defunding the police. It’s why he called out Hansen, thinking she attended a Black Lives Matter rally.
“I wonder what local law enforcement think when they hear that a legislator on the city council of the city of Manitowoc sings the praises of and supports an organization that constantly spoons forth the most vile hatred directed at them!” Zimmer said.
Hansen tells FOX 11 it wasn’t a Black Lives Matter rally, but even if it was….
“As a leader, I think it’s important to be a part of those conversations about diversity, inclusion and equity in our community.”
Fox 11’s phone calls to Zimmer went unanswered, as did our emails, and a visit to his home.
Hansen says it’s not Black Lives Matter harboring hatred in Manitowoc.
“He [Zimmer] was the one sharing hateful comments!”
Bailey is just ready to move on.
“It’s a minor setback, or a misunderstanding, and we still can move forward, and we’re still going in the right direction.”
The event Zimmer criticized Hansen for attending was created to promote diversity in the area.
Aaron Bailey is the group’s vice president.
