I was present at the Selma Town Council meeting in which Mayor Charles Hester made his now infamous opening statement. Admittedly, his use of “lynching” referenced America’s racist heritage. Worse, however, he undermined American democracy.

I and many other local residents attended the meeting to learn and voice our opinions about the proposed Selma ethanol plant. Instead of saluting our attendance as evidence of a healthy democracy, Mayor Hester used his opening statement to inform us that he doesn’t like “big crowds” at his town meetings and people who “stir up” such big crowds.

As Americans, the point of our attendance was to participate in our democratic process. Evidently, Mayor Hester was afraid, angered by or just plain not interested in our questions and opinions.

So referencing lynching, one of America’s most brutal practices of human intimidation and suppression, Mayor Hester told us up front, “Maybe one day ... we won’t have to worry about that [your rights to free speech and assembly] anymore.”

As an American patriot, I don’t take kindly to this arrogant approach to rule. Elected officials are to listen to and talk with the people, not suggest they be permanently silenced. Maybe we need to buy the mayor a pony. I think the horse he’s currently riding is too “high.”

Walt Caison Selma