The city council of Arnold, Pennsylvania, is seeking to remove the city’s mayor after she called for those protesting the police-shooting death of a black teenager, 17-year-old Antwon Rose Jr., to be “destroyed” by a water cannon last month.
Mayor Karen Peconi (D) faced backlash last month after screenshots of controversial posts published on her personal Facebook page went viral.
According to screenshots, a widely circulated post on Peconi’s page called for “rioters to be destroyed by a water canon [sic].” The post came as hundreds of demonstrators marched to protest the police killing of Rose Jr. and to call for criminal charges against the accused officer.
According to a report published by CBS News on Wednesday, the Arnold City Council has voted to ask Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) and the state Senate to remove Peconi over the comments.
The city approved the motion in a 4-0 vote on Tuesday, with Peconi reportedly opting to abstain.
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Peconi’s office initially denied the mayor made the comments while speaking to Pittsburgh’s Action News 4, but Peconi issued a statement days later apologizing for the comments.
“I love this community, I would do anything for the people here. I don’t take my position as Mayor lightly and deeply regret the comments I made on Facebook. It was never my intention to offend anyone, and for those who I offended I am sincerely sorry,” Peconi said in a statement.
Peconi has refused to step down over the controversial comments, saying in a prepared statement during a city council meeting Tuesday night, “I am not planning to resign from the city of Arnold.” She was drowned out by the crowd’s boos, CBS Pittsburgh reported.