I think we’re all wise enough to know and understand that racism and the mistreatment of women is not a thing of the past. We’ve seen it far too many times to ignore. Still, a recent incident out of Port Wentworth, Georgia has shown us just how far we need to go.

According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution and Savannah Now, a photo of council member Debbie Johnson was posted on Facebook and it resulted in a discrimination and sexual harassment complaint being filed against the city.

According to Johnson’s complaint, another council member uploaded an image that exposed an area between her legs. The image was taken during a closed session of the council. Johnson states that resident Eric Steely posted the image on Facebook stating that she was not wearing underwear.

Johnson, who is the first Black woman in the council of all White men, said that the only people allowed in the closed sessions are the mayor, the city manager, city attorney, council members and the city clerk.

During a later meeting, Councilman Paul Fox Jr. told the panel that he was ashamed of them.

“I’m ashamed to say I’m working with some of these people on council for things that have happened that shouldn’t,” Fox said.

Johnson later stormed out of the closed session, screaming obscenities.

Before she left the meeting, Johnson could be heard yelling from behind closed doors saying, “Perverts, perverts” and then other obscenities.

Johnson has filed a police report claiming sexual harassment. Her complaint against the city states that she has experienced racial discrimination since she was elected in 2014. She’s the first African American to hold a position in the council.

She writes, “Over the years, I have felt that there was a conspiracy for political reasons to which they have used political tactics to sexually harass, politically intimidate, defame my character, racially discriminate, public humiliation and threaten my safety.”

She also states that at times she has feared for her life and has contacted the FBI, Department of Justice, NAACP and the District Attorney’s office.

Johnson says Facebook has a record of all the council members who viewed the picture, including Mayor Glenn Jones, Councilman Bill Herrin, former Councilman Lloyd Ernie Stanhope and former Councilman Tim Holbrook are all Facebook friends with Eric Steely.

Johnson was particularly disappointed that the mayor saw the picture and didn’t warn her that it was posted on the internet.

While the Savannah Morning News, has been unable to locate the photo on Facebook, Eric Steely admitted to posting it, with no remorse whatsoever.

“I posted it.”

He did say that he was not the one to take the picture though. But he wouldn’t say who sent it to him.

Steely is unfazed by Johnson’s complaint.

“I couldn’t care less about her complaint,” Steely said. “As far as I’m concerned, she wanted to get in this game – this is how it’s played.”

Mayor Jones said when he saw the picture he was disgusted.

“Wherever it was taken doesn’t matter to me. I was appalled.”

He too denied taking the photo.

“I can put my hand on the Bible—I did not take that photo. I think it crossed the line.”

When asked why he didn’t inform Johnson of the picture’s presence on the internet, he said, “hindsight is 20/20.”

On Saturday, Johnson said that the harassment must stop.

“The documented history of derogatory Facebook posts, false complaints and inappropriate pictures has exposed a conspiracy against me. I’m sick to my stomach that one of my colleagues would stoop to this.”

Steely also had more to say about the incident.

“This post will serve as my immediate resignation as de facto front man in everyones’ battles with city hall, Fred Williams (developer), HOAs, urine in the pool, weather not right, etc…How many of you begged me to expose the picture showing just how nasty Johnson is, well, I did, so where were all your previous big talk FB comments?”

Johnson believes that Mayor Jones is not entirely innocent in all of this and enlists others to do his dirty work.

“From day one the mayor, Mayor Pro-Tem Bowers, Herrin, Holbrook, Stanhope, Claxton, the city attorney, and police department have all conspired to politically destroy me because I stand up for what is right,” she said.

“I’m afraid for my life because these white men are determined to assassinate me one way or the other. It has to stop.”

I am honestly shocked by this story. Not only is it hard to image that adults and officials would behave this way. But the fact that Steely admitted, unashamedly, to posting the picture is truly unbelievable There’s nothing like the meeting of racism and sexism. I sincerely hope Johnson will be victorious in her suit against the city. And I hope that Steely and the man who took the picture face criminal charges for their heinous actions. God bless Debbie Johnson for even lowering herself to associate with the likes of these vile men.

http://wtoc.images.worldnow.com/interface/js/WNVideo.js?rnd=866458599;hostDomain=www.wtoc.com;playerWidth=630;playerHeight=355;isShowIcon=true;clipId=12637028;flvUri=;partnerclipid=;adTag=News;advertisingZone=;enableAds=true;landingPage=;islandingPageoverride=;playerType=STANDARD_EMBEDDEDscript;controlsType=fixedWTOC-TV: Savannah, Beaufort, SC, News, Weather & Sports