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Mississippi mayor apologizes for tweets on George Floyd

Posted May 31, 2020 7:00 am

The Associated Press

Protesters, who did not wish to be identified, chant outside the Mississippi State Capitol building in Jackson, Miss. on Friday afternoon following comments made by Petal Mayor Hal Marx regarding the death of George Floyd on Monday in Minneapolis. Friday, May 28, 2020. (Sarah Warnock/The Clarion-Ledger via AP) The Associated Press

PETAL, Miss. (AP) - A white Mississippi mayor who caused an outrage with his tweets about the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis has apologized but says he won't resign.

Petal Mayor Hal Marx told the Hattiesburg American his remarks on social media about Floyd's death, which occurred after a white police officer kneeled on his neck, 'œwere made in haste and not well-thought out or expressed.'ť

'œI apologize to those who found them to be insensitive, and I apologize to the people of our city,'ť Marx told the newspaper in an interview Saturday.

Still, the mayor said he plans to serve out his term that expires in July 2021. On Friday, at least 200 people protested at City Hall calling for Marx to resign. Petal's board of aldermen also agreed the mayor should step down.

'œWhy in the world would anyone choose to become a police officer in our society today?'ť Marx tweeted Tuesday, the day four Minneapolis police officers were fired. Floyd, 46, was handcuffed and pleading for air as a white police officer kneeled on his neck Monday.

In a follow-up tweet, the Republican directly referenced the Floyd case, saying he 'œdidn't see anything unreasonable'ť: 'œIf you can say you can't breathe, you're breathing. Most likely that man died of overdose or heart attack. Video doesn't show his resistance that got him in that position. Police being crucified.'ť

Marx told the newspaper that city aldermen and others had wrongly characterized the tweets as racist.

'œI did not make racist comments,'ť Marx said, "and I have not mistreated anyone.'ť

Protesters carry signs and wear T-shirts with slogans in support of a Minneapolis man, George Floyd, who died Monday after a police officer held him to the ground with a knee to his neck. The protesters rallied outside Petal, Miss., City Hall on Friday, May 29, 2020, after Mayor Hal Marx made comments on social media about Floyd's death that some consider racist. (Lici Beveridge/The Clarion-Ledger via AP) The Associated Press

Petal Mayor Hal Marx raises his hand and refuses to resign at a special board of aldermen meeting at Petal City Hall, Thursday, May 28, 2020, in Petal, Miss., over comments he made about the death of Minneapolis man George Floyd at the hands of police, on social media. (Cam Bonelli/Hattiesburg American via AP) The Associated Press

People react to Petal Mayor Hal Marx at a special board of aldermen meeting, Thursday, May 28, 2020, in Petal, Miss., over comments Marx made about the death of Minneapolis man George Floyd on social media. (Cam Bonelli/Hattiesburg American via AP) The Associated Press

FILE - This 2012 file photo shows Petal, Miss., Mayor Hal Marx in Hattiesburg, Miss. Marx, who commented on the death of George Floyd, who died after being pinned to the ground by police in Minnesota, says his words are being misinterpreted. (Hattiesburg American via AP) The Associated Press

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