JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A controversial issue for the Republican Party of Duval County has been put to bed in the words of its outgoing chairman.
On Monday, outgoing Duval GOP chair Rick Hartley and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference met over a controversial tweet made weeks ago by the party's now ex-secretary.
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After the verdict was read in Ferguson, Missouri, weeks ago, a GOP staffer tweeted that police should use fire hoses on the demonstrators.
This prompted outrage and a meeting brokered by mayoral candidate Bill Bbishop between the SCLC and Hartley.
In a letter to the SCLC Hartley wrote, "Myself, and the Republican Party of Duval County do not wish to condone and wish to take the strongest position against the use of racially charged language that offends or disparages our fellow citizens."
MORE: Read Hartley's complete remarks to SCLC
The local SCLC said the organization appreciated the apology.
"We thought the apology was sincere," said Opio Sokoni. "From there we feel that in the spirit of conciliation we will accept the apology of Chairman Hartley and we will move on."
City Councilman Robin Lumb has been elected the new chairman of the local GOP. And the secretary who made the tweet has been replaced.
Hartley added that he joined the SCLC on Monday and is its newest member. He will start attending meetings to listen, adding that he has a very different worldview than many of its members.