PALMETTO BAY, Fla. — A member of the Palmetto Bay Village Council is facing calls to step down over a Facebook post in the wake of the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, which some of his colleagues on the dais are calling “horrific” and “vile.”
Councilman Steve Cody posted an image containing a quote from Kirk that read, “I think it’s worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights.”
Above the image, Cody remarked, “Charlie Kirk is a fitting sacrifice to our Lords: Smith & Wesson. Hallowed be their names.”
It was made in the wake of Kirk’s shooting death while speaking at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.
Palmetto Bay Mayor Karyn Cunningham called the post “horrific” and urged Cody to step down.
“This was a loss that was egregious and violent,” Cunningham said. “We support an entire community of people. When I saw the post, I thought, ‘What kind of message does this send to the community?’”
Cody took down the post and apologized in a lengthy statement titled, “I screwed up.”
But that’s not satisfying some residents and fellow council members.
“It is disgusting, it is vile, and I agree: Councilman Cody should resign,” Councilwoman Marsha Matson said.
Residents and elected officials gathered at a protest at Palmetto Bay Village Hall to share their displeasure.
“He should be removed from his post,” resident Linda Miller said.
Councilman Mark Merwitzer called Cody’s comments “unbecoming of an elected official.”
“It is things like that that should cause someone to have to resign,” Merwitzer said.
Cody’s apology post on Facebook made no mention of a resignation.
Instead, it said, in part: “To the Kirk Family, my sincere condolences during this difficult time, and apologies for my statements I made that caused you further distress. And to anyone who was offended or hurt by my post, particularly those impacted by gun violence, I extend my sincere and profound apologies.”
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