CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The Michigan City Common Council unanimously passed a vote of no confidence in their mayor after he made racially charged comments in a voicemail to a black pastor.
The council is calling on Duane Parry to resign.
Parry listened to speaker after speaker during the council meeting, held on Zoom, saying he has to go. At one point he appeared to be wiping away tears.
Parry is a Republican, who previously ran for public office as a Democrat.
The counsel members are all Democrats. Six of the nine are black.
The mayor apologized for a second time and said he's taking diversity training.
One council member said Parry can't effectively lead a city with a 30-percent African American population.
"Why does he feel comfortable enough to make such bigoted comments in his office? What is he saying in a more unrestrained environment?" asked council member Gene Simmons.
More than two hours into the meeting, Parry apologized, saying he's meeting with ministers on Thursday, but he won't give up his seat as mayor.
"Why? Because I can't. I am not a quitter, I never have quit on anything in my life. I am going to overcome," said Mayor Parry.
The incident that brought this on occurred after the mayor left a black pastor a voicemail and thought he had hung up the phone.
He's heard saying, "these black guys, they all want a (bleeping) audience.
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