Photo: Courtesy KTHV-TV
A video released earlier this week on YouTube featuring individuals angry at a Michigan man holding up a Black Lives Matter sign along a Harrison highway has prompted officials in Boone County to issue a public statement.
Boone County Judge Robert Hathaway, Harrison Mayor Jerry Jackson and Harrison Regional Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Bob Largent in a Facebook post say, “The video does not represent Boone County nor the City of Harrison.” The three go on to say, “While we cannot excuse the reprehensible behavior and words of individuals recorded in the video, we know for certain that they do not reflect the views of the majority of the good people of our communities. It is obvious there is still work to be done in our area and across the nation. We must constantly strive to do better, and we pledge our continued efforts in that regard.”
The three made their comments after Michigan resident Rob Bliss said he wanted to have conversations with residents in the “most racist town in America.”
KTHV-TV reports Bliss shared the video of the negative interactions on social media, garnering thousands of views in less than a day.
The video, spanning a little over two minutes, shows cuts of racist language and vitriolic comments made by people.
The camera is showing Bliss’s point of view facing public roads as cars drive by or as people walk in front of the local Walmart while he holds the sign.
Bliss says his motivation in choosing Harrison was to start conversations outside of “traditionally liberal areas.” He says he regards the city as “the most racist” due to its history as the KKK headquarters, along with a billboard of an advertisement for a White pride radio station still standing in the city.
He says it’s the fact the town has a billboard stating “White Pride,” “without any protest at all.”
As far as Harrison, Bliss says it can come down to something as simple as the words “White” and “pride” and the idea that together, they can be cruel.
“If the people of Harrison feel this video does not represent them and their beliefs, then they should take down that billboard,” Bliss says.
Although the video is edited to show dozens of moments of retaliation to the term “Black Lives Matter” by the residents of Harrison, in the last few seconds, it shows a masked young person handing Bliss a piece of paper.
“Ignore the haters,” it said, along with the sentiment that Bliss was being peaceful and what he was doing was good. “Just a friendly reminder,” the note said.
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