SANTA CLARITA, Calif., Jan. 27 (UPI) -- A Los Angeles-area councilman who embraced the term "proud racist" at an anti-immigration rally got an outpouring of support at this week's council meeting.
An overflow crowd packed the meeting Tuesday night in Santa Clarita, most of them there to support Bob Kellar, the Los Angeles Times reported. He was called a "proud American" and a "caring and compassionate leader."
Kellar spoke at a Jan. 16 rally organized by the Santa Clarita Valley Independent Minutemen. After citing President Theodore Roosevelt's belief the United States should have one flag and one language, Kellar said that if agreeing with Roosevelt makes him a racist "then I'm a proud racist."
At Tuesday's meeting, Kellar, a former Santa Clarita mayor and a Los Angeles police officer, stood by his comment.
"Illegal immigration is a problem for all Americans, and we need to do our part to address it," Kellar said. "If we are to remain a nation of laws, we must respect those laws."
Santa Clarita, in Los Angeles County, has a population of almost 180,000. Almost 60 percent of the residents are non-Hispanic whites and 20 percent are Hispanics, the Times said.
