Councilman's controversial post draws backlash

10/8/2018

Toledo City Councilman Yvonne Harper

THE BLADE
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Toledo City Councilman Yvonne Harper said she was trying to motivate Toledoans to vote in the midterm election when she shared a Facebook post over the weekend that has since generated some push back.

The District 4 representative shared a map of the United States divided between blue states that voted for Hillary Clinton and red states that voted for Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election. The map’s key labeled the blue as “United States of America,” and the red as “Dumbf—istan.”

Ms. Harper said she was frustrated listening to the controversial confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and by President Trump mocking Christine Blasey Ford, who accused Justice Kavanaugh of sexual assault. She said in hindsight she should have removed the map’s key that included the swear word and only included the map.

“I screen-shot it and posted it with my comments as a citizen and a constituent who wants everyone to vote no matter what side you are on,” Ms. Harper said in a prepared statement.

She added that she shared the post on her personal Facebook page and not on an official city council account.