Kesha Gibson-Carter reprimanded for calling fellow Savannah council member racist

The incident happened during council’s Dec. 9 meeting after Gibson-Carter and Palumbo squabbled over comments related to another item, which Palumbo felt were out of order. Later Palumbo called for a point of personal privilege and moved to reprimand Gibson-Carter for calling him racist.

Mayor Van Johnson stated that he would investigate the incident following the Dec. 9 meeting. Around the one hour and 52 minute mark of the recording of the Dec. 9 meeting the term can be heard and the exchange between Gibson-Carter and Palumbo is also reflected in the meeting minutes.

Prior to the vote being taken on Tuesday, Gibson-Carter said the action she was being accused of had not been formally presented to her.

"So by virtue of the fact due process was not afforded to me in a formal process, I am acknowledging that this all is null and void, it should not be used on this platform of precious time,” she said.

“When we are in a city with rising crime and homicide, when we are in a city with homelessness that's out of control, when we are in a city where we do not have affordable housing for people who are being evicted from their homes daily, when we are living in a city where everything is out of control, is the best use of this space for a reprimand?”

The conversation that followed was filled with several alderman calling for a point of order while Johnson and Gibson-Carter talked over each other. Johnson told Gibson-Carter she had been afforded an opportunity to address the issue during the Dec. 9 meeting after he asked her if she had used the term, but she had refused to answer.

Credit: Courtesy City of Savannah

Credit: Courtesy City of Savannah

Palumbo told council the term was used twice during the Dec. 9 meeting.

"The first time I don't think anybody heard it. It's on the video, you can see Alderwoman Gibson-Carter turn my direction and say it. And I know it because I have hearing aids, I suffer from hearing loss and during the meetings I turn them up to their highest levels so I can pay attention to the meeting. It wasn't on the microphone," he said, adding that the second time members of city staff and the Clerk of Council heard the term used.

"... I felt that this was the most appropriate action as the victim in this consequence to deal with this in this manner, in the hopes that we could turn a new page in the holiday season, and do better next time.”

Johnson said he had placed the reprimand on Tuesday's agenda after Gibson-Carter questioned who brought it forward.

"So of all the things in the City of Savannah you could have put on the agenda, you put this on the agenda because someone creates antagonistic scenarios, and then they want to play the victim,” Gibson-Carter said.

As the back and forth continued Johnson said the issue was Gibson-Carter's behavior.

"The fact of the matter is that we're not going to allow you to continue to disrespect members of council and staff. You will act appropriately. You will respect members of council, you can disagree with people, but you will act and treat people with dignity and respect," he said.

Gibson-Carter later asked Palumbo four times whether or not he was racist before Johnson told her not to direct questions to other members of council. She then asked Johnson to ask the question, which he declined to do.

"Well if you're not, then why are we here? Grow up, pick on somebody your own size," she said.

Katie Nussbaum is the city and county government reporter for the Savannah Morning News. Contact her at knussbaum@savannahnow.com. Twitter: KnussSMN

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Kesha Gibson-Carter reprimanded for calling fellow Savannah council member racist