A staff member for San Diego City Councilwoman Lori Zapf has been suspended without pay for comments she made about protesters.
Community Representative Shirley Owen is apologizing for reportedly saying she wanted to “shoot” protesters during their demonstration Wednesday at Golden Hall.
As Councilwoman Lori Zapf and others were being sworn-in as council members, Mark Jones and a dozen others were protesting.
“We were very peaceful,” Jones said. "I was aware that this was a very special ceremony for the city council members. Their families were there, and I didn't want to go in and make a mess, so all we did is just quietly put our hands up. We made a gesture for Eric Garner. We did a die in."
According to KPBS, after the ceremony was over and as reporters were waiting for Councilwoman Zapf for interviews, Owen was overheard calling protesters "idiots with their hands up" and saying "I wanted to shoot them."
Jones admits he didn't hear what Owen said but was told by a KPBS reporter.
“I could not believe that someone who was representing the community, or shall I say one of our councilwomen, would say something that incredibly insensitive and, to me, very racist," he said.
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On Friday, Owen issued an apology saying: “I sincerely apologize for my comment on Wednesday. It was an offhand comment to a friend about the protest, and I should not have said it. It was wrong and in incredibly poor taste. I apologize to all I have offended, and especially to the protestors who were exercising their First Amendment rights by peacefully demonstrating."
“Nobody was arguing with you,” Jones said. “Sometimes we say things that we don't mean. You just said that, so that's who you are. I accept your apology, but I can't have anybody like that representing me or my community.”
Zapf also issued a statement: "A few days ago a member of my staff made a grossly inappropriate comment to a friend about individuals who were peacefully protesting at a City event. Her words were extremely insensitive and in no way reflect my beliefs or the values of my office. Ms. Owen has been suspended without pay for two weeks. As the first Latina elected to the San Diego City Council, I am acutely aware of the interaction between law enforcement and our communities. Ensuring that there is accountability and trust between those groups is paramount. This is a highly sensitive national conversation, which is in no way helped by flippant remarks.”
Jones says the apology and two weeks without pay isn’t enough.
“I'd like to see her terminated, and I think all of Councilwoman Lorie Zapf's staff needs to go to some type of racial and human rights sensitivity training,” he said.
