Hayward apologizes for taco meme accompanying sanctuary city tweet

The City of Hayward issued an apology Tuesday for what some considered to be insensitive use of a taco meme. The City of Hayward issued an apology Tuesday for what some considered to be insensitive use of a taco meme. Photo: Twitter Screen Grab Photo: Twitter Screen Grab Image 1 of / 29 Caption Close Hayward apologizes for taco meme accompanying sanctuary city tweet 1 / 29 Back to Gallery

A tweet from the City of Hayward promoting a city council meeting about Hayward's sanctuary city status received criticism on Tuesday f0r its inclusion of a meme.

The tweet was posted at 10:45 a.m. Tuesday and featured a drawing of a taco with the phrase, "Let's Taco Bout It."

City spokesperson Chuck Finnie said the meme refers to the "Taco Tuesday" tradition and was used in a rotation of memes advertising public meetings. The city had employed taco memes in at least three other tweets since January.

Some social media users deemed the meme "insensitive" and "ignorant" as it accompanied a post advertising tonight's Council meeting, where members plan to discuss Hayward's sanctuary status.

"It just didn't get looked at," Finnie told SFGATE of the tweet.

Within three hours of its posting, the city deleted the tweet and issued an apology.

"A lot of serious work, careful thought and deliberation has gone into the issue before the city council tonight," Finnie said, "which makes this mistake especially upsetting and embarrassing."

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