NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- A New Jersey mayor drew the ire of protesters who called on him to say that he was “pro-black,” saying instead that he was “pro-black for all the good black people that I know in my life.”
Protesters who attended a rally denouncing social injustice in Clark Township on Saturday asked Clark Mayor Sal Bonaccorso to call himself “pro-black,” a video posted by NJ.com, which first reported on Bonaccorso’s remarks, shows.
“It’s not enough to say, 'I’m not racist.' You have to be anti-racist,” one protester says. “Why is it so weird to be able to just say, like, 'I am pro-black?' 'I am pro-black' doesn’t mean that I’m not for all the people, that’s the thing.”
“Our mayor said it. Our mayor said it, why can’t you? Our mayor said it with no problem,” another demonstrator can be heard saying.
“I am pro-black, for all the good black people that I know in my life,” Bonaccorso responds, to audible disbelief from the crowd.
“What does that mean?” one protesters exclaims, prompting Bonaccorso to clarify his comments.
“Hey folks, listen. I can’t say I’m for anybody if I don’t know you,” he says. “I’m for people. Good people, law-abiding, hard-working, good family, good friends, people with good intentions. If you’re black, great. If you’re white, great. If you’re Hispanic, great. It doesn’t matter.”
“I judge people on how you judge me. If you want to be my friend and stick your hand out, I’ll shake your hand. I’ll look you in the eye,” he adds. “My family’s Italian American. When my grandfather came to this country, he was discriminated against. But I’m gonna tell you again, I will treat people, good people, always with respect.”
One protester told NJ.com he felt Bonaccorso “said whatever he could to avoid committing to that statement, being pro-black, and all of its implications.”
Bonaccorso’s office didn’t immediately respond to 1010 WINS’ request for comment on the exchange.