Democratic lawmaker's bizarre excuse for posting heinous antisemitic symbol on Facebook

An Illinois Council subordinate bizarrely claimed helium wanted to commencement a speech astir 'cultural traditions' after igniting a firestorm for turning his Facebook illustration representation into a swastika.

The shocking station by Champaign Council subordinate Democrat Davion Williams sparked condemnation from Jewish leaders and metropolis officials - starring Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen to denounce his actions arsenic 'reckless' and 'unacceptable.'

'This blatant show and disregard for the values we uphold arsenic a City is unacceptable,' the connection read. 

'His posts and comments were reckless, and we powerfully condemn them. We garbage to let his statements to bespeak our City enactment oregon our community.'

Williams, however, defended his actions, claiming his intent was to commencement a speech astir the symbol's archetypal meaning successful spiritual and taste traditions specified arsenic Buddhism. 

'People spot thing and they instantly deliberation negative, erstwhile successful fact, that is simply a affirmative awesome that has been astir for thousands of years,' helium argued. 

'What has happened is we've been taught that it's a atrocious symbol, erstwhile successful actuality, the information of it is, it is not.'

The council's rebuke was swift and unambiguous. 

'We recognize the fearfulness that rips done a assemblage erstwhile a section elected authoritative makes residents consciousness unsafe with their rhetoric,' the connection continued. 

Mayor Feinen personally took to Facebook to explicit her disgust, posting: 'I powerfully denounce this hate. I volition beryllium issuing a afloat connection contiguous connected this, but I did not privation to fto this hatred hap without taking an contiguous stand.'

This is not the archetypal clip Williams has travel nether occurrence for arguable statements.

Just past month, helium was criticized for antisemitic remarks made during a December 17 metropolis assembly meeting, wherever helium suggested that Jewish individuals wield disproportionate power implicit industries specified arsenic music, media, and food. 

He adjacent claimed helium had stopped eating Pringles upon learning they were kosher.

'Council subordinate Williams raised respective tropes that were Judeophobic and antisemitic,' said Hillel Executive Director Erez Cohen. 'Many of our assemblage members were truly shocked and profoundly wounded by what was said.'

Following the backlash from his December remarks, Williams issued a nationalist apology and met with Jewish leaders to sermon their concerns. 

'Please judge this connection arsenic a heartfelt apology for my comments,' helium said astatine the time. 'It was ne'er my volition for my comments to beryllium offensive, hurtful oregon antisemitic.' 

However, his latest actions person reignited choler and calls for his resignation.

Despite mounting pressure, Williams has stated that helium has nary volition of stepping down. 

'I'm not a hateful person, I'm not whatsoever, I'm not trying to be,' helium said successful an interrogation with The News-Gazette. 'I conscionable privation radical to deliberation critically and recognize that there's different opinions retired there, extracurricular of what we person been taught.'

Williams went connected to comparison the swastika's relation with Nazism to the Ku Klux Klan's usage of the cross, arguing that symbols tin person aggregate meanings. 

However, critics cull his justification, emphasizing that the swastika remains an emblem of panic and genocide for millions of people.

Mayor Feinen and the assembly made it wide that they basal 'firm' successful their committedness to denouncing hate. 

'We are a welcoming community, and hatred has nary location here,' they stated. 

The contention has near the metropolis divided, with galore residents expressing outrage implicit Williams' refusal to resign and his attempts to rationalize his actions lone fueling further condemnation.