Racist, antisemitic outburst targets Raleigh City Council member in Zoom meeting

Raleigh's Citizen Advisory Councils are changing their policies after several people hijacked a neighborhood meeting, hurling racist and antisemitic slurs at city councilors.

The outburst occurred Monday during the latest meeting of the Midtown Citizens Advisory Council (CAC), which represents Raleigh Midtown.

Speakers told WRAL News the slurs mostly targeted Mary Black, a Black city councilor who represents that district in Raleigh. The outburst followed a discussion about police pay raises.

The hybrid meeting was held over Zoom and in person at the Millbrook Exchange Community Center. Speakers said the meeting came to an abrupt halt when it devolved into hate.

"It’s the worst of mankind that you could possibly expect," said Larry Helfant, who was running the meeting. "It goes against everything we stand for. We’re trying to communicate with the community, and it wasn’t fair to our membership at all because we had to end the meeting prematurely."

According to Helfant, a handful of new people joined the meeting online with their cameras off, only showing screen names.

Helfant said some of the names were Mordecai, Levi and Judy Stroyer, an acronym for "Jew destroyer."

Helfant said the group took control of the meeting, unmuting themselves to spew racist comments, including the n-word, toward Black, who had also joined on Zoom.

"I think it was a coordinated disruption," Helfant said. "They were abusive, derogatory, and there’s no need for that in a public forum. People don’t deserve that kind of treatment."

City councilor Christina Jones had also joined the meeting virtually.

"All of the five who had joined us just started hurling racial slurs at Mary, at every minority you could think of, and saying the most vile things," Jones said. "We can’t allow that to stop communication, to stop conversation."

Jones said she called Black immediately after the meeting ended.

"We just cried on the phone, because I can’t imagine what she experienced," Jones said. "It’s nothing I’ll ever understand, but to be hurled those racial slurs is nothing anyone should experience. My heart goes out to her."

WRAL News reached out to Black but has not heard back.

Jones said she's now working with the CACs and city of Raleigh to create new policies so disruptions don't derail community meetings again.

"We can’t prevent bad things from happening, but with leadership in place that can mitigate the concerns that happen, I think we can come and make a welcoming place for everyone," Jones said.

Helfant, who has led many CAC meetings, told WRAL News he was surprised by the disruption.

"Unfortunately, it’s a sign of the times," he said. "I should have been more aware with what’s going on in downtown Raleigh, what’s going on nationwide, that it could come home to roost in our meeting. I never expected that."