St. Petersburg mayoral candidate Paul Congemi went on a racial tirade when he told members of the Uhuru Solidarity Movement and backers of rival candidate Jesse Nevel’s campaign to “go back to Africa” at a forum about opportunities for youth Tuesday night.
The Uhuru Solidarity Movement has backed Jesse Nevel who has expressed support for its effort to create reparations for slavery.
“Mr. Nevel, you and your people, you talk about reparations. The reparations that you talk about, Mr. Nevel, your people already got your reparations,” Congemi said to the audience at the forum. “Your reparations came in the form of a man named Barack Obama.
“My advice to you if you don’t like it here in America, planes leave every hour from from Tampa Airport, go back to Africa,” he continued. “Go back to Africa. Go back to Africa. Go back!”
Afterward, Congemi wrote in an email to the Tampa Bay Times, “My remark was meant for the group Mr. Nevel represents. Not all African Americans. Just those that Nevel represents.”
Current Mayor Rick Kriseman released a statement one day after Congemi’s rant over reparations:
“I was reluctant to engage this candidate last night and draw even more attention to his disturbing message. I regret not doing so, though. It is simply unacceptable to spew this kind of bigoted rhetoric. Free speech should not compromise the dignity and respect of any person or community. This candidate spoke hateful words about African-Americans and our LGBT community. He has the right to do so, but nothing about what he said is right. His comments just aren’t who we are.”
