Hayward mayor's epic anti-woke rant

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CITY NEWS

HAYWARD

—SIDESHOW STOPPER—When Hayward Councilmember George Syrop described sideshows as a “cultural event,” argued that punishment of the illegal activity is a racial equity issue, and voiced hypocrisy that rodeos are acceptable activity, it was too much for Hayward Mayor Mark Salinas to handle.

—Tuesday night’s council discussion centered on a proposal by the Hayward Police Department to add punishments for spectators attending sideshows to an existing city ordinance.

—“I had no idea that I was going to hear this issue associated to modern day slavery and the torture of animals at rodeos,” Salinas said.

—“I’ve been going to rodeo my entire life in five states and I’ve never seen the bull rider get so excited that they started shooting the spectators.”

Watch the video clip above.

—Syrop said he views sideshows as a “cultural practice.” He added, “I don’t want to be naive. It’s already illegal and it’s happening. It’s a cultural practice.”

—Hayward Councilmember Angela Andrews called sideshows a “sport.”

—Several Hayward councilmembers expressed concern about whether increased police enforcement of sideshows will impact minority groups, and further diminish racial equity in Hayward.

—“We apply equity to everything that is unfair,” Salinas said. “Equity means going after the most negatively impacted group of people and figuring out a way to lift up their situation so their quality of life is better.”

—Cracking down on sideshows that negatively impact the lives of Hayward residents is about accountability, he added, noting the activity often diminishes the quality of life in the city’s predominantly black and brown communities.

—Despite Salinas’ rant, Syrop doubled down on his stance, arguing the proposed amendments to ordinance will mostly impact black and brown individuals attending sideshows.

—“Speaking as a brown man,” Salinas said. “If I’m out there. Fine me. Just because we’re brown or black, and we’re out there. we should be fined and held accountable for that behavior.”