A Facebook group called "Bloomington Deserves Better Than Kevin Lower" is attacking the mayoral candidate for a 3-year-old response to an alleged racist post on a page titled the Marcus Garvey Society.
On the page was a comment suggesting that "if African Americans really wanted to escape racism, it might be time for them to move to the land of the ancestors."
Lower's response was that "there are more opportunities on the African continent than on the North American."
Lower said he doesn't know the other person who posted and rejects racism.
"I looked at it last night. I really don't understand it. I don't know where that came from. It's not something that I would support. I don't remember joining it. I don't remember being a member of it. And I haven't, you know, it's beyond me. I can't tell you. Don't know," said Lower.
Lower said it was a comment on the economy, not on race.
"Our recession is hard on our minority community, more so than even on the community in general. And that's where I was coming from, I think," said Lower.
Lower said the public should be having a dialog on the economy and on racial issues. He said coming together to discuss those matters can help solve them.
The Facebook group highlighting Lower's old post characterizes itself as a "progressively minded bunch." It is a group that transitioned from opposition to candidate Ian Bayne in the Bloomington primary. It claims it is not affiliated with Mayor Tari Renner, Lower's opponent in the April 4 election.
