The article posted here on August 7, “Vaughan Expresses Frustration at Response of White People to Riots,” upset a lot of people.
The article had 66 comments at the Rhino Times website and 68 comments on the Rhino Times Facebook page.
The vast majority, but not all, of the comments were negative and critical of Vaughan’s statements about white people being upset because they were inconvenienced by the protests. The word “inconvenienced” bothered a lot of readers. Some said that having a business heavily damaged and looted was not an “inconvenience.”
Greensboro city councilmembers also expressed disagreement with Vaughan’s statements about the protests and riots being an “inconvenience” to white people.
Councilmember Marikay Abuzuaiter said, “I don’t think anyone would disagree that what was done to George Floyd was wrong. From the police chief to elected officials, everyone that I’ve spoken to believes it was horribly wrong. And I do believe that everyone has their First Amendment right to protest, but it is also against the law to block roads, to take over businesses, and it is not appropriate to frighten people who are trying to go about their daily business.”
She said, “To take over businesses and frighten customers and block roads where people are trying to get to work is totally inappropriate and I don’t condone or support any of those actions.”
Councilmember Justin Outling said of Vaughan’s statements, “I think she is dead wrong.”
Outling said that blocking roads “is unacceptable, especially after it has happened over and over.”
Outling said that while he agreed with many of the ideals of the protestors, he didn’t agree with the tactics. He also said that he had heard of one family that was prevented from getting to the hospital by the protests at Friendly Center and that was far more than an inconvenience.
Outling also took issue with Vaughan characterizing the people who were upset about the protests and roads being closed as white people. He said, “What that does is dehumanizes people of color saying that persons of color were not upset about this. People are not being seen as the humans that they are.”
He said that it implied that a person of color could not be upset about being stuck in traffic by a protest because all persons of color had to agree.
He said, “I just fundamentally disagree with it.”
You should retitle this article as “Far-right media followers agree with far-right media opinion: Duh-doy.”
Your news is that your own readers and Facebook followers agree with you? Great reporting. Pulitzer right here.
I didn’t realize that Justin Outling was “far right.”
In terms of GSO city politics, he is.
I didn’t realize I said anything about Justin Outling….
Isn’t the First Amendment great? We all have to right to voice an opinion, whether it offends or not. Protect all the amendments with the Second.
Still clueless in Greensboro
What’s an incompetent virtue signaling Mayor to do? Marikay and Justin are both right. Ol’ Nancy seems desperate to prove her worth doesn’t she? Just threw all of citizens of Greensboro that dont think like her buddy Michelle under the bus
There are at least some cool heads on the City Council. I agree wholeheartedly with Justin Outling regarding the dehuminization of all other than “white” people. I have communicated with a number of non-white people who are up in arms about Nancy Vaughns irresponsible comments. For her to intimate that destruction of hard-working peoples businesses, and blocking of traffic on major thoroughfares is only a mere inconvenience is ludicrous. The comments she made are reflective of those comments made by the disasterous Mayor of Chicago. Is this what we want leading Greensboro. Do we want the destructive rioters getting more and more aggressive because they have the permission of the Mayor backing them. And because they have a Mayor that calls for the police to stand down amid the destruction and blocking of highways. Citizens of Greensboro better wake up. Greensboro is headed in that direction.
Not sure our Mayor wants to get re-elected. I can’t believe anyone would be for looters and protested who are not peaceful.
Glad to see there are still people with good sense on city council!!!!!!
I am so disappointed in how Mayor Vaughn handled the rioting, blocking roads, going into stores, etc.
I agree with organized peaceful protest.
But she stood by while our downtown was torn up, businesses vandalized! Our police should be supported and allowed to do their job.
She is not who I want running our City.
I’ll be upset the next election and vote Vaughn out of office. I’m sick of spineless politicians caving under this pressure that these people are trying to apply. Everyone has said many times before the death of George Floyd was wrong. Let’s let that play out in court when all the evidence comes out and a jury of pears votes. We can not and should not let people take the law into their own hands. We have due process in this country and we should be following it!!!
Maybe there’s hope for a few council members after all. Nancy was wrong and she should apologize to all White people for her comments.
To quote Comedian Dave Chappelle: “White women, I love ya…but y’all need to STFU.”
Actually glad to hear these comments John. I have a little hope in that not all council members are just totally pandering to the mob.
Thank goodness someone spoke out about her trip to Tip-er-airee. Pullease!
I think Fred Baracat’s daughter has run her course as mayor, time for new blood.
So, we have two council members who do not want to be associated with the opinions of Nancy Vaughn and FREEDOPEMAJOR about the riots. That’s a start toward a more representative council.
ps. FREEDOPEMAJOR says he organized the peaceful protest but left before it got violent and destructive.
Pay attention voters….This whole council is knee-capping the police. Nancy’s encouraging more vandalism and harassment from protesters. Tammy wants police to pull out a “consent” form every time one of our cops wants to take a gun off of a gang member. Michelle wants to take away that mean gas that police used during the riot to put a stop to the rampaging…….Meanwhile the violent crime keeps on rising. These people don’t care because the people who are hurt the most don’t live anywhere near them. This council is “Portland Woke”. Their virtuous actions to support black lives are literally destroying black lives. 34 murders and still rising. Wake up and vote these idiots out Greensboro.
Vaughn has to go! Law abiding citizens cannot continue to stand idly by and watch our city become victim of this nonsense. Absolutely people have the right to voice their opinion by peaceful protest – but people do NOT have the right to be violent towards others or and destroy someone else’s property…and then on top of that have a “so called mayor” join in their efforts by spewing ridiculous support for them over the lawful. Just to think of the absurd audacity that the left wants to take our gun rights away but when BS like this breaks rears it ugly head … Ole Nancy has shown us what she will do to protect the law abiding citizens – tuck her head and run like a scared little zero. If you don’t have the balls to stand up for what is right, let someone else who does take the reigns. I am a Black American and I can testify first hand that the so called “systemic racism” that supposedly exists is a lie that the democrats use to brainwash. I’ve always lived in the South and never in my life have i been treated differently just because the color of my skins – by ANYONE! Yes, there have been times I did not get a job because someone else was better qualified than me. That DOES NOT MEAN THE PERSON WAS RACIST! WHITE PEOPLE – DROP THE RACISM PANDERING – YOU ARE MAKING US HATE EACH OTHER!!! Everyone reading this – watch the Greensboro City Council video of Mark Robinson from last summer .. he is running for Lt Governer… that’s the kind of leaders we need.
Nancy was very different when defending the cops involved w the death of marcus smith. She was very much the opposite. We all can agree Greensboro doesnt need nancy’s leadership. John will endorse her though.