Superior Protesters To Mayor: Apologize For Remarks Or Resign

A small group of people gathered at Superior’s government center Monday to denounce the city’s mayor for a controversial social media comment he made last week about the president and first lady. Protesters are calling for a boycott of city events and a vote of no confidence.

Mayor Bruce Hagen wrote on Facebook that Barack and Michelle Obama have “destroyed the fabric of democracy,” calling the president “her Muslim partner.” The mayor responded to critics in a statement last week. He said he isn’t racist and will not resign. He also said he’s willing to repair any damages “directly and openly.”

Looking on as protesters gathered, City Clerk Terri Kalan said she’s received a lot of calls and that city business has been disrupted.

“The thing that I found disheartening is how mean people can be on both sides of the situation,” said Kalan. “How can there ever be peace when there’s so much hate?”

Superior’s Patty Olson was at the protest. She said she’d like the mayor to apologize, “and for a recognition that the real thing eroding democracy is ignorance and hatred.”

Twin Ports human rights activist Kym Young said the mayor’s absence at city hall shows a lack of sincerity.

“To make comments like that and leave it the way he left it, he should not have,” Young said. “He should’ve stayed. He should’ve faced the music. He should’ve begun that process of trying to make it work.”

Young said the Twin Ports Justice City Coalition will boycott city events for as long as it takes for the mayor to resign, retract the statement or apologize.

Hagen could not be reached for comment.