Roanoke Mayor Apologizes for Invoking Internment Camps, Didn't Know It Would Go Viral

By Joanna Rothkopf  |  November 20, 2015 | 9:50pm
Politics

On Wednesday, Roanoke Mayor David A. Bowers made it known that the Syrian refugee crisis made him think of Japanese internment camps and wouldn’t that be a good idea to revisit?

His comments obviously went viral, prompting calls for his resignation and a medium-swift, all-too-earnest apology on Thursday.

“I was thinking of the families of the innocent victims of the terrorist attacks in Paris and the threats to our nation’s capital city when I made that statement yesterday,” he said. “My statement was intended to be respectful, measured, and moderate in tone and substance. People here in Roanoke know that’s the way I try to handle things.”

Why did he say it? According to WSET reporter Annie Andersen, he didn’t think anyone would find out.

Haha, of course we would find out.

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