CHARLOTTE, N.C. — For the second time, Mecklenburg County Commissioner Vilma Leake has received a racist letter.
The two-page typed letter was mailed to her at the Government Center. She passed it on to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for investigation.
[PAST COVERAGE: CMPD to investigate racist letters sent to local black leaders]
Leake said the letter was delivered Thursday or Friday, but she did not open it until Saturday.
"I am disturbed someone would take the time to do this," Leake said. "Evidently, they are not working in the community to help somebody or to be supportive of any programs."
The letter included racist, vile and insulting phrases about Commissioner Leake and African Americans. As she did with the first letter, she read it out loud during the County Commission meeting.
Leake said she was advised by some colleagues to not bring attention to the hate but, she said she feels it is important that the public knows what is going on.
"As long as I get this, the public will hear it and know it," Leake said.
Vilma Leake has dedicated her life to public service.
She's been a county commissioner since 2008 and served on the school board for a decade before that. Last month, when she received a similar letter, she alerted the FBI and CMPD.
"The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has been contacted," Officer Blake Page said in a statement. "Detectives are reviewing the material and working to identify the source responsible for drafting and forwarding the content."
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Throughout the whole process, Commissioner Leake has remained strong and handled it with strength and grace. Commissioner Leake said she is praying for the community and the sender of the letter.
She said that, if she ever finds out the person's identity, she wants to meet him or her and have a face-to-face conversation.
"Whomever it is, don't stay a coward. Be brave enough to face me," Leake said. "I am woman enough to take it."
Hundreds of people have signed a unity letter rejecting racism and bigotry. Organizers said it will be published in newspapers Sunday.
Unlike the first letter, Leake appears to be the only public official to receive this second racist message.
You can hear Vilma Leake read the letter at the County Commission meeting here.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 704-336-2338.