'Dance Monkey Dance': Brockton Official Resigns After Attacking Kneeling Patriots

BROCKTON, MA — A member of the Brockton Parks and Recreation Commission who posted an inflammatory Facebook comment aimed at protesting members of the New England Patriots has resigned.

Stephen Pina, also a youth football coach in the city, wrote Sunday, "Turds, your dumb*** isn't paid to think about politics...dance monkey dance." (Subscribe to Brockton Patch for updates on this and other local stories.)

The comment, made in a Facebook post, led Mayor Bill Carpenter to call for Pina's resignation.

In a letter to Pina, Carpenter wrote, "As public officials, we are held to a higher standard of conduct in both our professional and personal lives, including social media. This insensitive and racial remark posted by you on social media is unacceptable and offensive. It is even more disturbing coming from an individual occupying a position of public responsibility and trust. Therefore I recommend that you voluntarily resign from your position as a Commissioner of the Parks and Recreation Department."

If Pina did not resign, Carpenter indicated that he would bring the issue to the city council, where he could be removed with a two-thirds vote.

Pina told the Enterprise that he got the phrase "dance monkey dance" from WEEI's Kirk and Callahan, where he said he heard it several times. He said it was not meant to be a racist comment, admitting that he got caught up in social media activity.

The comment was originally made on a post published on the Boston 25 News Facebook page.

About 17 members of the Patriots took a knee during the National Anthem prior to Sunday's game at Gillette Stadium, days after President Trump said players who kneel during the anthem should be fired.