In a controversial comment, Columbus City Councilwoman Toyia Tucker (District 4) stated that businesses should receive your attention and dollars purely because of the race of the owner and not the merit of the business.

While providing comment on “black-owned business month,” which is recognized during the month of August, Tucker chose to express favoritism for constituents of a single race instead of treating all of her constituents equally under the law, as is required by public officials.

 “When you are investing in a black business, that black business is investing in the community … Black Business Month was created in 2004. It’s really to bring more awareness and get individuals to support Black-owned businesses.” Councilwoman Tucker stated. 

Tucker failed to offer the same words for members of any other race, exclusively voicing her support only for business owners of one particular race — a move prohibited for public officials.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. Showing support for a single race while excluding all others, regardless of intent,  is by definition racial discrimination. 

Councilwoman Tucker’s comments appear to blatantly violate the principles behind the nation’s long-standing anti-discrimination laws, which require all people to be held equally under the law regardless of their immutable characteristics.

Tucker’s outward support for only one particular race may also be a violation of her oath of office as a member of city council, which requires the Mayor and council members to support and defend the “Constitution and laws of the State of Georgia and of the United States of America.” Given that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 falls under the law, the argument can be made for a violation of her duties to the community at-large. 

Public officials are required to treat all of their constituents equally under the law without providing favoritism or discrimination based on any metric — especially ones as immutable as race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

The Muckraker will continue to follow up on this breaking story as more information becomes available.