Commentator Praises Boise for Lack of Black People, Sparks Outrage

"Hetero Awesomeness Festival" and Racist Remarks

• 🎯 A festival, billed as a celebration of "traditional family values" and a counter to Pride Month, hosted speakers including far-right podcaster David Reilly.
• 🗣️ Reilly, during a segment at the festival, praised Boise, Idaho, stating it was a "topnotch American city" because "there aren't any Black people here."
• 🎙️ The comment was made on a microphone, amplifying his voice, despite the event's stated purpose.

Organizer's Response and Justifications

• 🤷 Mark Fitzpatrick, the event host, distanced himself from Reilly's remark, stating he would not have said it and that Reilly is his own person.
• ❓ Fitzpatrick declined to directly condemn the comment, suggesting Reilly should be asked if he has a justification or if he prejudges Black people.
• 🗣️ He reiterated that people have free speech, but also stated he doesn't believe people should be derogatory with the intent to hurt feelings.

Shifting Blame from Race to Ideology

• 💡 Fitzpatrick attempted to attribute Boise's cleanliness not to race, but to a lack of "wokeism" and "liberalism."
• 🚫 He claimed that liberalism causes cities to go downhill, asserting it has nothing to do with the color of people's skin.

Reilly's History and Further Statements

• 🚩 David Reilly has a documented history, including attending the 2017 Unite Right rally in Charlottesville and making anti-semitic social media posts.
• 😅 Reilly later called his comment about Black people "a joke."
• 💥 He further stated, "Diversity is a weakness, not a strength," and that "The LGBTQIA plus movement is satanic."
• 🏳️‍🌈 Reilly also declared that "Straight white people are welcomed and wanted in Idaho."

Critiques of the Remarks and Event

• 💔 The hosts and guests expressed dismay, with one noting that while Idaho is gorgeous, they wouldn't want to deal with certain types of people.
• 🚫 The sentiment was that if this is the local culture, they would "opt out."
• 🧐 Questions were raised about why Reilly was invited as a commentator to an already discriminatory event.
• 🤡 The defense that it was "just a joke" and that "diversity is a weakness" was called out as contradictory and indicative of a racist mindset.
• ✅ Conversely, diversity of thought, experience, and culture was highlighted as a massive strength.