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Mayor Rowan apologizes after NAACP letter, community presses for written response
Summary
Mayor Michael Rowan opened the Feb. 11 Panama City Commission meeting with a public apology after the Bay County NAACP sent a letter saying his remarks at the branchBlack History Month proclamation were "incorrect and inappropriate." The NAACP requested a written response; commissioners and speakers pressed for further community dialogue.
Mayor Michael Rowan began the Panama City Commission meeting by addressing criticism of remarks he made while recognized at the Bay County NAACP Black History Month proclamation. "If you are one of those who felt offended or embarrassed by my remarks, I publicly apologize to you," Rowan said at the meeting, adding, "Let me be clear I am not a racist."
The Bay County NAACP sent a formal letter to the commission and the mayor after the Feb. 3 event, saying Rowan had characterized Black History Month as "to remember slavery" and had used phrases the branch deemed offensive. Matthew Schack, first vice president of the Bay County NAACP, read the letter…
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