Nonprofit Worker Removed from Job, Mayor Resigns After Racist Facebook Post Directed at Michelle Obama

CLAY, WV — A nonprofit worker in Clay, West Virginia, has been placed on leave and the town's mayor has resigned after a controversy the two women became involved in regarding an extremely racist Facebook post that was directed at First Lady Michelle Obama.

The post was made by Pamela Taylor, who worked as the director at the Clay County Development Corporation. The Facebook post has since been deleted, as has Taylor's Facebook page, but local news station WSAZ was the first to report on the content of the post, in which Taylor wrote, "It will be refreshing to have a classy, beautiful, dignified First Lady in the White House. I'm tired of seeing an ape in heels."

Several people commented on the post, including the mayor of Clay, Beverly Whaling. But Whaling's comment did not condemn the racism in the post.

"Just made my day Pam," Whaling wrote.

Both women have since apologized for the post. WSAZ reported that Taylor apologized on her Facebook page.

Whaling sent a statement to the Washington Post apologizing for her comment.

“My comment was not intended to be racist at all,” Whaling said in a statement. “I was referring to my day being made for change in the White House! I am truly sorry for any hard feeling this may have caused! Those who know me know that I’m not of any way racist!

“Again, I would like to apologize for this getting out of hand!”

"All we can comment on is that she has been removed from her position," the Clay County Development Corporation told WSAZ.

Both WSAZ and another local news station WCHS reported that Whaling has turned in her letter of resignation.

An online petition calling for the termination of both women has so far received over 120,000 signatures.

Clay County Sheriff Garrett Samples told WSAZ threats have been made against the two women and other county workers as a result of the post. However, no official reports have been filed with the department as of yet.

"I feel it's so unfortunate that people still have these racist undertones," Owens Brown, director of the NAACP's West Virginia chapter, told The Associated Press. "Unfortunately, this is a reality that we are dealing with in America today. There's no place for these types of attitudes in our state."

State Democratic Party Chairwoman Belinda Biafore apologized to the first lady for the post.

“On behalf of my fellow Mountaineers I would like extend my sincerest apologies to first lady Michelle Obama,” State Democratic Party Chairwoman Belinda Biafore said in an emailed statement to the Charleston Gazette-Mail. “West Virginia truly is better than this. These radical, hateful, and racist ideals are exactly what we at the West Virginia Democratic Party will continue to fight against. These words and actions do not represent West Virginia values.

“We will continue to fight for a West Virginia that is inclusive, not divisive and a home for all to feel safe, welcome, and protected. In a time when we are at a crossroads and many fear the future we must stand together against hate of all forms.”

Clay County has an extremely small African-American population. The controversy will be addressed at a town council meeting Tuesday.

Image credit: DFID-UK Department for International Development via Flickr Creative Commons