A newly-elected member of Portland’s City Charter Commission is facing a stern rebuke from city leadership for repeatedly calling the city manager a white supremacist.
On Tuesday, Nasreen Sheikh-Yousef was elected to the commission, which was assembled to recommend changes to the city’s charter. Those changes may impact the roles of the mayor and city manager positions, however, according to the Portland Press Herald, City Manager Jon Jennings plans to step down when his contract is up next summer.
Sheikh-Yousef called Jennings a white supremacist multiple times in posts on Twitter on Wednesday, a day after she was elected, and called for the position to be abolished.
Jon Jennings is a white supremacist!
Jon Jennings is a white supremacist! Jon Jennings is a white supremacist! Jon Jennings is a white supremacist!
Jon Jennings is a white supremacist! Jon Jennings is a white supremacist!Abolish the city manager position!
— Nasreen Sheikh-Yousef (@NasreenME) June 9, 2021
Jennings issued a statement saying he was appalled by her words, and says he’s spent his life on issues that bring people together to stand against hate.
The Press Herald writes that Mayor Kate Snyder and City Councilor Spencer Thibodeau also condemned the statements, with Thibodeau suggesting Sheikh-Yousef should apologize or step down from her new role.
Sheikh-Yousef hasn’t elaborated on the statements, but they come a year after the death of George Floyd and ensuing protests in the city against what activists say are policies that perpetuate inequality.
