On Tuesday, Rae Washington, an African-American graduate student in Texas, posted a comment on Macy’s Facebook page responding to a promotional giveaway for a makeup bag.

“Ohh that bag is too cute! Looks like I have some shopping to do!” Washington posted under her FB name, Cho Large, with a profile photo that clearly shows her ethnicity.

In response, Langis posted: “They don’t take food stamps.”

Washington saw Langis’ comment Wednesday.

“When I read it I stared at it for 20 seconds, thinking, ‘Is this really happening? It’s 2015,’” she said Thursday. “It really, really hurt.”

She never had any exchange with Langis before, Washington said. “I’ve never seen him before in my life. I’m positive he doesn’t know who I am. I was shocked.”

Washington took a screen shot of her post and Langis’ response, which she sent to the Sun Journal. His comment has since been taken down.

Langis is elected “and can’t be fired,” Washington acknowledged, “but I think people deserve to know what kind of man is representing not only their diverse community but their children.”

In Auburn schools, 9 percent of the student population is black; 13 percent is minority.

In an email to the Sun Journal on Thursday, Langis said the reason he was on Macy’s Facebook page was because the chain “(bowed) to the pressure of political correctness and stopped selling Donald Trump’s line of men’s apparel because of…comments (Trump) made” that the country needs to crack down on illegal immigration.

“I wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Trump,” Langis said. “In North Carolina alone, as of Nov. 30, 2013, there were 1,634 foreign nationals with felony convictions serving sentences within the state’s prison system.” He said the majority were Mexican.

Langis made the comments in a “statement to the people of Auburn,” saying, “the Sun Journal has decided to write a story about me and other online comments they think the public would like to know about.”

Efforts on Thursday to reach Auburn School Committee Acting Chairman Tom Kendall for his reaction were unsuccessful.

After seeing the story about Langis’ comment online Thursday night, Auburn Mayor Jonathan LaBonte posted a statement on his Facebook wall.

“Auburn’s future will be set by those willing to call our community home,” LaBonte wrote. “Hallmarks of growing communities are those that grow in their diversity and their open, constructive engagement on public policy. This story does none of those.”

LaBonte wrote that he had “reached out” to Washington to offer an apology on behalf of the city “and to discuss with her what I believe to be the pulse of our city and its citizens.”

The mayor said he had asked Langis to “separate his immigration views from his comment and consider offering an apology. I hope he does.”

A search of Langis’ Facebook posts made since he was elected in November produced a number of posts that have been criticized.

In December, Langis posted an infowars.com story about Cuban immigrants after President Barack Obama announced he’d work to normalize relations with Cuba titled, “Obama’s Cuba Move: More Democrat Voters.” The story noted the move could bring a “wave of new impoverished immigrants” to the United States.

“Goodbye, Florida!” Langis posted.

When a friend posted that most Cubans in Florida are Republicans, Langis posted, “The ones that are here now are. Not sure about the ones who have no job skills, no money, don’t speak English, etc. …”

In his statement, Langis wrote that he didn’t see a problem with an elected official making such comments. He said no one “should be afraid to be themselves. … Many in our society are led by a politically correct and agenda-driven media that has created a climate of intimidation for anyone.”

In June, Langis posted a doctored image of the Maine Turnpike sign: “Welcome to Maine, The Way Life Should Be.” The image had a matching sign just below, reading: “Travel warning: Enter Lewiston at Your Own Risk.”

In posting the image, Langis noted he thought it was a creative image, and “it’s funny because I can imagine a day when the sign would be real.”

He said Thursday he related to that image “because of all the recent talk of merging Auburn and Lewiston.”

“I opposed this merger passionately,” Langis said. “Auburn is a beautiful city.”

In his statement, he noted, “it used to be that when you needed something, the people of Auburn had to go to Lewiston to get it; now the roles have been reversed.” 

“Auburn is a shining city on a hill,” he said.

Langis said he ran for the School Committee because he wanted to do all he could to make sure his son and Auburn students are receiving the best education possible, and to be a voice for the taxpayer.

bwashuk@sunjournal.com

Response from Christopher Langis:

July 9, 2015

Dear Citizens of Auburn,

It has come to my attention that because of a recent comment I made on Macy’s Facebook page, the Sun Journal has decided to write a story about me and other online comments they think the public would like to know about.

First, the reason I was on Macy’s Facbook page commenting is that they have decided to bow to the pressure of political correctness and stop selling Donald Trump’s line of mens’ apparel because of recent comments Mr. Trump made where he stated that the United States needs to secure our borders and crack down on illegal immigration.

I wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Trump; in North Carolina alone, as of November 30, 2013, there were a total of 1,634 foreign nationals with felony convictions serving sentences within the state’s prison system. The majority of them (1,142) are Mexican nationals. Illegal aliens from Central America make up the next largest group of state inmates, with 116 from Honduras, 62 from El Salvador, 43 from Guatemala, and 8 from Nicaragua.

Another problem with illegal immigration is that it is hurting the American worker. With over 93 million Americans out of work—a record number—it makes absolutely no sense to import millions of low-skilled people—whether it be via open borders or “legal” immigration—to take jobs from Americans and cause lower wages in many sectors of the job market.

This country is so divided on so many issues; gun rights, abortion, same-sex marriage, immigration, the death penalty and so many other issues. We are living in a rapidly changing society no doubt, and the worst thing we can do is try to silence each other. I am reminded of a quote from President Harry Truman who said “Once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the voice of opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear.”

It has also come to my attention that the Sun Journal has taken some offense to a picture on my Facebook page which depicts the “Welcome to Maine” sign that greets visitors coming to Maine. Under the “Welcome to Maine” sign, there is a sign that says “Open for Business”. I found a picture online that replaced the “Open for Business” with “Travel warning, enter Lewiston at your own risk”. I relate to this image because of all the recent talk of merging Auburn and Lewiston. I oppose this merger passionately. Auburn is a beautiful city, we have come a long way over the past many years improving it, and I am proud to call it my home. Major retailers in Lewiston have left Lewiston in recent years—Sears and Lamey-Wellehan are a couple of examples. Meanwhile in Auburn, we have been growing. Hobby Lobby, Home Depot, Lowe’s and many other retailers are in Auburn and not in Lewiston. It used to be that when you needed something the people of Auburn had to go to Lewiston to get it, now the roles have been reversed. Auburn is a shining city on a hill.  

Nobody should be afraid to be themselves, be proud of who you are, where you come from and what you stand for. Many in our society are led by a politically correct and agenda driven media that has created a climate of intimidation for anyone, like Mr. Trump, who dares go against modern corporate culture. I find what forums are available to speak about my concerns and the concerns of my constituents—some of whom are minorities—and they don’t like big corporations importing labor to drive down wages, nor do they like those who profit from moving people from their homelands and settling them in our towns, changing our culture forever.

I am sure I will be a topic of discussion for some time to come and It’s unfortunate. I am proud of the work accomplished in the Auburn School Committee since I was elected last fall. We passed a responsible budget that was very challenging getting everyone on-board to approve. We have started important discussions about how to do more with less and finding areas in which we may be over spending. Auburn can be an example for every other school district in Maine, we have great & innovative programs and curriculum. These local issues are what the Sun Journal should be focused on, and not trying to attack people for their views on un-related topics. I will continue to speak for what is in the best interest of my constituencies and the taxpayers and property-owners in Auburn and not for what is best for special interests.

Sincerely,

Chris Langis, Ward 4 representative, Auburn School Committee

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