Tri-County NAACP President Al Carnegie accuses Bronson Councilman Jason Hunt of making racist comments on Facebook.

By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

            Bronson Town Councilman Jason Hunt was called on the carpet Monday night for statements he made on Facebook suggesting it was okay to run over protesters.

            Al Carnegie, president of the Tri-County NAACP, described the comments as racist and said Hunt also described black protesters as savages that needed to be killed in a post that followed his original comment about running over protesters.

            “Who comes out and says racial stuff like that when they’re sitting on the council. Something needs to be done about it. I don’t know what can be done, but something has to be done and have no remorse whatsoever, none. I’m not a savage,” Carnegie said.

            “No one said you were,” Hunt responded.

            Carnegie: “You said…”

            “My comment didn’t point any race out,” Hunt replied.

            “Hey look, we’re not stupid and we’re not crazy,” Carnegie responded.

            Hunt’s Facebook comments were posted several days before a peaceful march in Bronson protesting police brutality in the murder of a black man in Minneapolis, Minn.

            His original post showed the faces of two white actors in a State Farm commercial famous for the words, “It’s Jake from State Farm,” but the photos carried fictional subtitles.

            “Someone ran over a protester,” the woman said.

            “Yeah, well, it’s a highway, so…” the man responded.

            Later in a Facebook post, Hunt said, “We need to be killing all these savages.”

            Carnegie said it was clear Hunt was making comments about blacks and whites

            “Everyone in this room can vouch for that. If you read it, it’s not the way you meant. It’s done, been done, and if you feel that way you shouldn’t be here representing people.  You shouldn’t be up there,” Carnegie said looking directly at Hunt at the council table.

            Carnegie was taken to task by Spotlight founder Linda Cooper for making allegations in the council meeting without bringing documentation to prove what he was saying. She said his agenda item made no mention of what he would talk about. She said he should have produced documents to demonstrate the basis for his charges and town staff should have posted them on the agenda well before the meeting. Spotlight obtained copies of Hunt’s posts, but not from town staff or Carnegie.

            Speaking to a capacity crowd in the council chambers, Carnegie, a funeral homeowner, said everybody’s blood is the same. Some blood might be a little darker, some a little lighter, “but in my business, when they embalm you and that blood comes out of you, it ain’t no different.”

            He said racism isn’t born in people. He said it has to be taught and ingrained in the heart, and is often taught by parents.

            “Racism is a dangerous thing that we got going on here. I was born and raised in Levy County. I know each and every one of us, whites, blacks, colored; I know what’s in your heart. You don’t need to be on this council saying these sorts of things,” Carnegie said.

            Carnegie said Levy County needs to “get on board.” He said people can’t be teaching their children racism.

            “I thank God that we hadn’t got to the point where we’re burning down something, causing a whole bunch of conflict for people who worked hard to get where they are,” Carnegie said. “We had a situation at Rosewood. We don’t need a situation like that. That’s been in the past, so let’s get rid of this racism in Levy County.”

            Hunt said later his family has been the target of threats. He was concerned about their safety.

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Town of Bronson Regular Meeting June 15, 2020; Posted June 17, 2020