Kansas City mayor says he’s receiving death threats over mask order

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas (D) on Monday posted a message he received to his Facebook page using a racial slur against him and saying he should “hang from a tree” after he required the wearing of masks in public.

Lucas also noted a doctored image of him appearing to hold a T-shirt reading “F— the police” has circulated recently, posting the original photo, in which the shirt he is holding is advertising a local radio station.

“To the many texting me aghast of fake photos circulating, I recommend you not believe everything a muckraker sends your way… and use some judgment,” Lucas wrote. “Odd to have to disprove something so patently ridiculous and nonsensical (who takes a smiling F the police photo at a rock station?), but alas, that’s 2020.”

“Add to this the racial slur and subtle death threat I received yesterday about requiring masks, and it’s like, y’all… let’s do better,” he added. The message Lucas received calls him a “piece of shit n—-” and says “You should swing from a tree, I’m not threatening it, but would love to see it.”

Numerous major U.S. cities have imposed mask mandates as several states, including California, Florida, Texas and Oklahoma, experience spikes in coronavirus cases.

Lucas’s order, which took effect Monday, requires facial coverings in all indoor public spaces or “while performing an activity which will necessarily involve close contact or proximity to co-workers or the public where 6 feet of separation is not feasible.”

“Wearing a mask or face covering can be uncomfortable, but this is a necessary step to ensure we can save lives and keep our economy open,” Lucas tweeted Friday. “We wear masks to protect our loved ones, those around us, and their loved ones.”

Wearing a mask or face covering can be uncomfortable, but this is a necessary step to ensure we can save lives and keep our economy open. We wear masks to protect our loved ones, those around us, and their loved ones.

Mayor Lucas’s updated Order goes into effect on Monday. #KCMO pic.twitter.com/Cnf96dB9fY

— Mayor Quinton Lucas (@MayorLucasKC) June 26, 2020