Anti-Indian slurs mar US city council elections

NEW YORK: Orange City councilman Don Sherrill sparked outrage among Indian Americans on Thursday when he told a local newspaper that voters should not trust his Indian-born opponent, 60-year-old Tom Abraham, as he came from 911 country and had a “funny Indian” accent.

“I’m usually not prejudiced, but I don’t want an Indian in the government. As far as I know he could be a nice guy, but this sort of people get embedded over here…You remember 9-11,” Sherrill told the Orlando Sentinel newspaper in a run-up to the Orange city council elections in Florida next week.

Sherrill also made disparaging remarks about his opponent’s Indian accent at a public debate in Orange city which has been aired by several US television channels.

“I don’t know what to rebut because I don’t understand what he is saying and I don’t mean that facetiously, I really don’t understand his funny Indian accent,” said Sherrill, who wears a hearing aid. Sherrill even told a daily that “City residents would not vote for Abraham if they just saw and heard him.” 

He brushed off the racial insults and said he would let the ballot speak. “They are not intelligent comments. It is part of his personality. I can’t do anything about that. But voters can decide.”

He said he started speaking English at five. He was born in Kerala, became a US citizen in 1989 and got involved in politics three years ago.

“I think it is important that Sherrill understands that he has offended Indians. We are inviting everyone to email him at donsherrill@earthlink.net. Be firm but polite — keep it clean,” said Orange city resident Manoj Vij.