She is the only person of colour running for Cary Town Council
Our Bureau
Cary, NC
The campaign sign of Sarika Bansal, an Indian-origin woman running for Cary town council in the US state of North Carolina was vandalised, with a photo of a Black person’s face superimposed over her face, as per media report.
The only person of colour, Bansal is running for the Cary Town Council this year. She termed the incident “shocking” and said she was “truly saddened by the act of vandalism and racism” against her campaign.
The vandalised campaign sign was detected in the Highcroft Village neighbourhood in West Cary, where Bansal is contesting for the seat. “We must embrace diversity as a means of building strength and unity in our town. There is no place for bigotry and racism against people of colour, brown or Black, in the Town of Cary,” she was quoted as saying.
As per a report, Asian Americans make up 20% of the 180,000-resident population in Cary.
“West Cary needs sustainable leadership,” said Bansal. “Having diversity on the Town Council is going to help bring the change that we need today,” she added.
Bansal encouraged other candidates to “commit themselves to working for a Cary that accepts people of all backgrounds and colour.” Bansal is running in a three-way race with current Councilman Ryan Eades and newcomer Rachel Jordan for the town’s District D seat.
Sarika Bansal is a wife and mother of a 14-year-old daughter, an accomplished information security professional and small business owner. Bansal owns Raj Jewels which she started in Morrisville five years ago. She has been active in local government in recent years.
Sarika is an advocate for women’s rights, common-sense gun reform and better mental health resources throughout the community.
Sarika knows the importance of community service. Her plan gives top priority to public safety with safe neighbourhoods, smart growth with environment protection and investments in our future with a community centre with parks for kids and dogs.
Bansal would become only the second woman of colour and the first Indian American to serve on the town council if she wins. Cary’s municipal election is on October 10, weeks before the county’s Election Day on November 7.
Mayor Harold Weinbrecht stated the town will do “everything we can to get to the bottom of this.” “This racist, despicable act stands in stark opposition to the values we hold dear in Cary and will only serve to bring our community closer,” Mr Weinbrecht said.
It is a class 3 misdemeanour, in North Carolina, for a person to steal, deface, vandalise or remove a political sign that is lawfully placed.
