CARROLLTON - The chairman of the Carroll County Board of Commissioners has apologized for anyone who was offended by another commissioner's use of the derogatory term "wetbacks."
Commission Chairman Bill Chappell issued a statement Wednesday saying he did not think Commissioner Bill Head knew the term was offensive to Hispanics when he used it during a meeting last week.
"I apologize to the Hispanic community and to anyone who was offended by the statement," Chappell wrote. "I do not believe Commissioner Head had any intent to offend anyone and he has confirmed that with me."
During a work session Dec. 4, Head said the county needed more jail space because of criminals from nearby Atlanta and "the wetbacks from down south."
In a Wednesday statement of his own, Head, 82, continued to maintain that his use of the term was directed only at illegal immigrants.
"I made that statement hoping to voice my belief that we need to close our borders to all illegal immigrants," Head wrote. "This is the reason for the statement, and was in no way intended toward legal people."
Head has previously said he would not apologize for using the term.
Wednesday's statements came after leaders from the Hispanic community and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People met with Head and Chappell on Tuesday to discuss the issue.
"Those meetings have been very good meetings and have been very productive," Chappell wrote.
Commissioner Randy Simpkins said he hoped the statements would end the matter.
"The whole incident is unfortunate," Simpkins said. "As I said before, I don't think Mr. Head meant any disrespect to Hispanics in general, and I hope this will be as much of a conclusion as possible."
Friday
January 24th, 2025
3:31AM
