A Leelanau County road commissioner reportedly used a racial slur while blaming Michigan's COVID-19 crisis on Detroit residents.
According to the Leelanau Enterprise, commissioner Tom Eckerle was asked by another commissioner at the road commission meeting why he was not wearing a face mask.
Ecklere responded, "Well, this whole thing is because of them n------ down in Detroit," the Leelanau Enterprise reports.
When told he couldn't say that, Eckerle reportedly responded that he could say anything he wants, adding, "Black Lives Matter has everything to do with taking the country away from us."
In a press release, State Rep. Jack O'Malley urged Eckerle to resign, after confirming that he made the comments.
"This type of racial slur is flat-out unacceptable and ignorant," he said. "I asked Mr. Eckerle to resign his position as road commissioner in light of these comments and shall he refuse, the citizens of Leelanau County have every right to recall him from office."
