Champaign reacts to city council member's swastika post at Tuesday meeting

Yahoo

06-02-2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Many people in the Champaign community are feeling 'dismayed' over the actions of a Champaign City Council member. People are calling for Davion Williams to step down after posting a swastika on social media.
WCIA reported that Williams ultimately took the post down and apologized. But at Tuesday night's city council meeting, he did not commit to step down.
Rabbi Alan Cook said there were a handful of people there vouching for Williams' character — but most were there condemning his actions. Cook said he's frustrated not only by this, but also what he and other Jewish leaders in the community see as a pattern.
Jewish community addresses Champaign city councilman after swastika post
'This is the second time that Davion Williams promotes Judeophobic tropes in the past month and a half,' Illini Hillel Executive Director Erez Cohen said.
In December, WCIA previously reported that Champaign City council Member Davion Williams issued an apology for comments he made at the end of a council meeting. He talked about the war in Gaza and also said that Jewish people have a lot of control over things like music, media and food. Now he's back under fire — this time for changing his Facebook profile picture to a swastika.
'It was heartening in that room to see that this was not only an issue that was of concern to the Jewish community,' Sinai Temple Rabbi Alan Cook said.
After making the post, Williams had said the swastika had been used for thousands of years prior across cultures and religions for positive reasons. He released an apology statement and apologized again in-person at Tuesday's meeting.
'It was never my intentions to harm anyone or make anyone feel disrespected, dismissed or unseen,' Council Member Davion Williams said.
'We cannot be silent today!': Champaign mayor, city council members denounce swastika Facebook post
But Jewish leaders like Cook said this isn't enough.
'To apologize and to re-offend, sort of sets up a perpetual cycle where you become less believable about how contrite you truly are,' Cook said.
Cook was one of the people who spoke up during public comment. He called for council member Williams to step down from his position — and he's not alone. The executive director of Illini Hillel also chimed in at the meeting.
'Williams should take the responsibility for his actions. I would like to see him step down,' Cohen said.
The Mayor of Champaign also spoke up about the situation during Tuesday night's meeting.
'I will be waiting to see if there is that turning. That is part of the heartfelt apology, because if there is not, there really should be a resignation,' Mayor Deborah Feinen said.
The council said there is no law on the books to remove a council member so that decision is up to him.
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