A young politician in Charlottesville faced criticism last week after a series of racist and sexist web posts he wrote about five years ago were unearthed.
Wes Bellamy, a Charlottesville councilman and vice-mayor, resigned his appointment to the state’s board of education over the controversy. But at Monday’s city council meeting Bellamy walked in to cheers.
At the meeting, Bellamy apologized for the Twitter posts, saying they don’t reflect the man he is today.
Charlottesville Mayor Mike Signer also spoke, saying he takes Bellamy at his word.
"I believe in second chances and our capacity to change and to improve and I'm willing personally to take him at his word and put this in our past," says Signer.
Blogger Jason Kessler, who initially uncovered and published the tweets, has called Bellamy a “Black Supremacist.”
Later, More of Bellamy's tweets were found and published by student journalist at the University of Virginia.
"While I reject the content of these communications," said Signer at the meeting, referring to Bellamy's tweets. "I also reject the hatred and outright racism of many of the attacks we have received against Mr. Bellamy."
Kessler also spoke at the meeting, presenting a petition for Bellamy to step down from city council.
Bellamy, who is also a high school teacher, has been placed on administrative leave.