A Marysville, Michigan, candidate for city council has dropped out of the race following backlash to comments she made at a recent public forum in which she urged city leaders to keep the city "white."
Jean Cramer, 67, caused a national stir last week when a video of her comments at a "meet the candidates" forum went viral.
In the video, Cramer responds to a question about the city doing more to attract immigrants by saying:
"My suggestion/recommendation: keep Marysville a white community as much as possible."
After an audible gasp from the attendees and fellow candidates, she continues:
"White. Seriously. In other words, no foreign-born. Uh-uh. No foreign people."
She goes on to vaguely mention things that the 95% white community of about 9,700, which is 55 miles north of Detroit, has "experienced" in the past that has led her to only want "American-born" citizens in the town.
Michigan candidate stuns forum with racial commentyoutu.be
After the racist comments, candidate and Mayor Pro Tempore Kathy Hayman spoke up, saying:
"My son-in-law is a black man, and I have biracial grandchildren. And I take this very, very personally what you've said, and I know that there's nothing I can say that's going to change your mind. But we all have the same...we just need to have more kindness."
Other members of the forum also distanced themselves from Cramer's comments, with one candidate even saying, "Just checking the calendar here and making sure it's still 2019."
Later, Cramer doubled down on her racist views while being interviewed by a local TV station by saying that it's fine if a black couple wants to move to the city, just not anyone involved in a "mixed marriage."
Candidate: Marysville should be as white 'as possible'youtu.be
After widespread backlash to the controversial comments, Cramer ended her candidacy on Monday with a short letter saying:
"I am writing this to withdraw as a city council candidate for the City of Marysville election, November 5, 2019."
Cramer's name will still appear on the ballot, however, as the deadline of April 26 for dropping out has long since passed.
While there were plenty of criticisms of Cramer, many were disappointed that the other candidates didn't directly condemn her comments as racist.
For many, it's just another example of just how emboldened people currently feel to openly express their outdated and racist views.
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