Decatur City Leaders, Residents React to Discriminatory Banner and Graffiti

Decatur city leaders are reacting to discriminatory messages that were discovered in the heart of the city.

A prejudiced banner and graffiti have popped up in the city over the past few days.

During Monday night’s city council meeting, the message from city leaders was clear – racism has no place here in this city.

“Bigotry has no place and racism has no place,” said Councilman Carlton McMasters. “What was put up is not indicative of the way that I want this city to be. It’s just not at all.”

The meeting centered on a discriminatory banner that was posted on an overpass on Highway 20 with the message that read, “White Men Built Our City, White Men Will Save Our City.”

The banner was immediately taken down, but not before Decatur residents spotted it on the highway. Decatur City Council President Jacob Ladner said that he hopes that those responsible for the banner could be prosecuted for their action.

“If we can prosecute, I am all for it but – People that have those beliefs are the worst people on the planet,” Ladner said.

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Just before the start of the meeting on Monday, vandalism was seen written on a wall under a Highway 20 railroad overpass pointing people to a website that the American Defamation League says supports white supremacist beliefs under the statement, “We Dare to Defend Our Rights.”

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