{"id":220468,"date":"2025-09-12T09:06:42","date_gmt":"2025-09-12T09:06:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/220468\/"},"modified":"2025-09-12T09:06:42","modified_gmt":"2025-09-12T09:06:42","slug":"council-president-calls-for-removal-of-council-appointed-board-member-who-said-charlie-kirk-spewed-nothing-but-hate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/220468\/","title":{"rendered":"Council president calls for removal of council-appointed board member who said Charlie Kirk \u2018spewed nothing but hate\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. <\/strong> \u2013 Jacksonville City Council President Kevin Carrico on Thursday called for the removal of a council-appointed board member who posted what he calls \u201chateful rhetoric\u201d following the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. <\/p>\n

The comments under fire came from Leofric Thomas Jr., who posted the following statement to his X account around 4 p.m. on Wednesday: \u201cWhen you spew hate, it\u2019s what you get back. Charlie spewed nothing but hate, so what he got back, was………yeah.\u201d <\/p>\n

The tweet ended with an emoji of a person shrugging. <\/p>\n

Carrico said he will be filing legislation to remove Thomas from his position,<\/a> and called on his fellow city councilmembers and Mayor Donna Deegan to join him in supporting the act. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis hateful rhetoric has no place in Jacksonville,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

Thomas also worked as the Data and Policy Manager for the Jacksonville Public Education Fund, according to JPEF\u2019s staff directory on its website<\/a>, but JPEF said in a statement Thursday evening that he is \u201cno longer with our organization.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAn employee replied to a social media post from their personal account in a manner inconsistent with our values and code of conduct. We condemn violence in all forms and extend our deepest condolences to Mr. Kirk\u2019s family. We are committed to respectful, empathetic dialogue across differing viewpoints. As this is a confidential personnel matter, we cannot share additional details,\u201d JPEF said. <\/p>\n

Councilman Rory Diamond posted to Facebook on Thursday morning, <\/a>also calling for Thomas Jr.\u2019s removal from the Public Service Grants Council, and used the term \u201cdisgusting\u201d to describe the comments.<\/p>\n

Mayor Deegan sent a statement to News4JAX after the calls for Thomas\u2019 removal: \u201cMayor Deegan has called for an end to hate, violence and any celebration of it. She is doing her best to turn down the rhetorical temperature and urges all our leaders to do the same. That said, this is a council appointment<\/a>\u00a0and a council decision.”<\/p>\n

Thomas sent a statement to News4JAX about the post and said he does not condone or endorse any form of violence.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn September 10th at 4:08 P.M., I made a post on X addressing Mr. Charlie Kirk. Unfortunately, that post has been taken out of context and misrepresented in a way that does not reflect my values or the work I have committed myself to throughout the City of Jacksonville.<\/p>\n

Public service has always been a calling for me\u2014one grounded in love, equity, and a deep desire to bring people together. My original post was never meant to imply that Mr. Kirk deserved what happened to him. I want to be very clear: I do not condone or endorse any form of violence, under any circumstance.<\/p>\n

Over the years, I have worked across political, racial, and cultural lines to serve our community. That includes standing up for marginalized voices\u2014particularly within the African-American, LGBTQ+, and women\u2019s communities. Some of Mr. Kirk\u2019s past statements have deeply disturbed me, especially those that many see as harmful toward those very communities, including ones I represent and belong to.<\/p>\n

While I strongly disagree with some of Mr. Kirk\u2019s views, I also recognize that disagreement should never be expressed in a way that can be interpreted as encouraging harm. If given the opportunity to say it again, I would voice my concerns very differently. I remain committed to leading with love, even in the face of division or disagreement.<\/p>\n

To anyone who was hurt, confused, or disappointed by my words\u2014I sincerely apologize. My heart and prayers are with Mr. Kirk\u2019s wife and children during this traumatic time.<\/p>\n

Love brings love. Hate brings hate. Let us choose love\u2014every time,” Thomas wrote in an emailed statement. <\/p>\n

According to the City of Jacksonville, Thomas was appointed by the council to serve as a board member for the Public Service Grants Council. The city says the entity\u2019s mission is to \u201censure the responsible and equitable allocation of public funds to support the City of Jacksonville\u2019s most vulnerable populations….We evaluate community needs, review past funding, and collaborate with experts to recommend a budget that maximizes impact.\u201d<\/p>\n

City records show that Thomas was appointed to the Public Service Grants Council on Feb. 14, when councilman Randy White was still serving as city council president. Carrico is among the councilmembers listed as \u201cco-sponsors\u201d for Thomas\u2019 appointment. <\/p>\n

Around 12:45 p.m. on Thursday, before JPEF said Thomas was no longer with the organization, Diamond posted on X saying that JPEF is \u201con the clock\u201d regarding a decision on how they will navigate the situation. <\/p>\n

\u201cJust so it\u2019s clear, @JaxPEF, you aren\u2019t going to be able to just blow this off and \u2018internal investigate this,\u2019\u201d he said. \u201cYou get a lot of City money. You\u2019re on the clock.\u201d <\/p>\n

\n

Just so it\u2019s clear, @JaxPEF<\/a>, you aren\u2019t going to be able to just blow this off and \u201cinternal investigate this.\u201d <\/p>\n

You get a lot of City money. <\/p>\n

You\u2019re on the clock. https:\/\/t.co\/rmOsfco4Xv<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Rory Diamond (@RoryDiamond) September 11, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Florida House of Representatives member Angie Nixon said<\/a> Diamond\u2019s actions can be attributed to \u201ctargeting democrats and marginalized communities.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShame on you @Councilman Rory Diamond for failing to ensure you get people off the streets but instead end folks\u2019 livelihoods and force them out on the streets,\u201d Nixon wrote. <\/p>\n

Thomas\u2019 comments came moments after it was reported that Kirk had been shot while conducting an event at a college campus in Utah, but before President Trump announced that Kirk had died<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA and a close ally of Trump, was shot and killed during an event at Utah Valley University. <\/p>\n

Videos posted to social media from the university show Kirk speaking into a handheld microphone while sitting under a white tent emblazoned with the slogans \u201cThe American Comeback\u201d and \u201cProve Me Wrong.\u201d A single shot rings out, and Kirk can be seen reaching up with his right hand as a large volume of blood gushes from the left side of his neck.<\/p>\n

The death was announced on social media by Trump, who praised the 31-year-old Kirk as \u201cGreat, and even Legendary.\u201d Later Wednesday, he released a recorded video from the White House in which he called Kirk a \u201cmartyr for truth and freedom\u201d and blamed the rhetoric of the \u201cradical left\u201d for the killing.<\/p>\n

Investigators released two images of a person of interest and appealed for tips to help solve the shooting of Kirk.<\/p>\n

The unidentified suspect is believed to have jumped off a roof and fled into a neighborhood after firing one shot, authorities said Thursday. A high-powered, bolt-action rifle they believe was used in the attack was recovered, and video recordings of the person they believe was responsible are being reviewed.<\/p>\n

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