Authorities in Antioch, a city grappling with ongoing racial tensions, have launched an investigation after a social media post called for “hangings in town square” to “fix Antioch right up.” The post, which surfaced just a year after Antioch’s police department was embroiled in a scandal involving officers exchanging racist and homophobic messages, has intensified concerns about hate speech and violence in the community. Interim Police Chief Brian Addington confirmed this week that the post is being investigated as a potential criminal or terrorist threat, but declined to provide further details, saying the inquiry should be completed in the coming weeks.
The post, allegedly made by a man from neighboring Oakley, came to light during an Aug. 27 City Council meeting. Antioch resident Nicole Arrington raised the issue, presenting screenshots of the message, which she described as part of a broader pattern of racist comments targeting Black members of the council and city staff. Mayor Lamar Thorpe, who has been the subject of racist attacks in the past, expressed his outrage at the post, condemning what he sees as a persistent undercurrent of racial hostility in the city. “I am sick and tired of being attacked by these people in this community apologizing for racism,” Thorpe said, reflecting the frustration of many who feel that progress has been slow.
This latest controversy comes in the wake of a scandal that shook Antioch’s police department last year when it was revealed that nearly half of the force had participated in online chatrooms where officers exchanged racist, sexist, and homophobic messages. The fallout led to 17 officers being placed on leave, with several resigning or being reassigned. Three officers now face charges related to an alleged conspiracy to assault Black residents, and are set to go to trial later this year. Councilmember Tamisha Torres-Walker called the recent “hanging” comment “outrageous,” underscoring the deep racial divide that continues to plague the city.
Tensions were on full display during the recent City Council meeting, where a contentious vote to appoint Bessie M. Scott, a Black woman, as the city’s new manager further inflamed passions. Some residents objected to Scott’s past social media comments on systemic racism, fueling a heated exchange that echoed the turmoil of last year’s police texting scandal. During the meeting, Antioch resident Erika Raulston recounted a disturbing encounter in which she was called a “racist b—-” and challenged to a fight. The episode, like so many others in recent months, has left many in Antioch questioning whether the city can ever fully heal from its deep-seated divisions.
Recent Comments