Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott claims DEI label is being weaponized by racists ... trends now
Racists have started using DEI as a put-down for any successful black person because they are too cowardly to use the N-word anymore, the Mayor of Baltimore has claimed.
Brandon Scott was elected to the city's top job in 2020 but has been routinely attacked by opponents online as a DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) appointment, despite winning 70 percent of the vote.
The mayor, who has won plaudits for his handling of Tuesday's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, warned that the term is being weaponized by the far-right as just the latest racist euphemism.
'We know what they want to say but they don't have the courage to say the N-word,' he told Joy Reid on MSNBC's morning show.
'I know and you know that black men and young black men in particular have been the boogeymen and for those who are racist and think only straight wealthy white men should have a say in anything.'
X owner Elon Musk retweeted the spurious claim by one of his favorite far-right accounts helping it to 25 million views before undoing his retweet as the backlash gathered
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott was elected to his office with 70 per cent of the vote in 2020
DEI initiatives seek to increase the number of people from under-represented ethnic groups in the workforce.
But they have come under fire from states across the country who argue that they amount to reverse discrimination against better qualified candidates.
Some have labelled it an acronym for 'Didn't Earn It', but Mayor Scott said that in his case it stands for 'Duly Elected Incumbent'.
'The fact that I don't believe in their untrue and wrong ideology and the fact that I am very proud of my heritage and who I am and where I come from scares them,' he added.
'Because me being in my position means that their way of thinking, their way of life being comfortable while everyone else suffers is going to be at risk and they should be afraid because that is my purpose in life.'
One far-right account received 25 million views for a tweet labeling Scott 'Baltimore's DEI mayor' after it was retweeted by X owner Elon Musk.
'It's going to get so, so much worse. Prepare accordingly.' the poster wrote.
