Citizen asks TCC’s stance on Hate Crimes in Toccoa

Toccoa resident Inger Neal came before the Toccoa City Commission on Monday asking the commissioners for their stance on hate crimes in Toccoa-Stephens County.

During the public comment section of the meeting, Neal asked the board about an email she had sent out to the commissioners.

“I would like to say ‘Thank you’ to Miss Fry (Commissioner Gail Fry) for being at the March on Saturday, it was a wonderful occasion; however, it was disappointing that the other commissioners did not see that it was a worthy cause for them to participate in,” Neal said. “My comment would be I did send an email out to the City Mayor and I know he shared it with the other Commissioners, I wanted to know what the City’s stance on hate crimes was. I did not receive a response back, and still that is a consideration of concern for me.”

Mayor Terry Carter told Neal that he personally would support any Hate Crime legislation in Georgia.

“I’ve been very responsive to your emails I think you would agree to that. Whenever you email me, the same day or within the hour, I always gotten back to you. I don’t recall you specifically asking me my position on hate crime…I can’t speak on behave of the commission, we’re all independent and we would have to vote; but, I would personally support any legislation that the state would do to have hate crime for the state of Georgia. That’s just me personally. I don’t recall that being in your email,” he said.

“It was,” Neal said.

“Okay, well then I answered it,” Carter said.

Neal again asked what the commission would be willing to do to prevent hate crimes in Toccoa.

“For this town…for Toccoa is that a statement that the City Commission would be willing to make to say, ‘there are things that will not be tolerated here—crimes against an individual because of the color of their skin, crimes against an individual because of their religion or their orientation?’ That’s what I’m asking,” Neal said. “Would the City Commission make any statement to say, ‘what’s acceptable and what’s not acceptable in their town,’ or is that something that you all cannot do?”

Carter told Neal that in order for the Commission to make a statement regarding hate crimes the commission would need to consult with the city’s attorney.

“I think that would be something we’d have to get advice from our City Attorney when it gets into the legal aspect of those, so we would definitely have to get with him,” Carter said.

“But is it something that you could put in the paper, as a personal, that you don’t condone, or how you personally feel…” Neal asked.

“Well I just stated how I personally feel, and the media is here. So, I stand by those remarks,” Carter said.

Commissioner Jeanette Jamieson attempted to answer Neal’s question.

“I believe, it may not be addressing the entire issue, but the policy in our police department, for years, has been there’s no such thing as a no-knock warrant, there’s no such thing as choke-holds or anything else, that’s been part of the police department and City’s policy for years,” Jamieson said.

No action was taken following the Public Comment section of the meeting.