A mayor from Southern California has sparked outrage by making some bizarre remarks, such as carrying out a “purge” of homeless people by giving them fentanyl.
Mayor R. Rex Parris ignited a firestorm with his controversial comments on February 25, per the New York Post.
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While a local resident expressed concern about the city’s proposal to “enclose” the homeless on an abandoned golf course, Parris cut her off with a jaw-dropping remark.
“What I want to do is give them free fentanyl,” he said, interrupting the woman. “I mean, that’s what I want to do. I want to give them all the fentanyl they want.”
The resident responded bluntly, telling the long-time mayor: “That was not kind.”
But Parris wasn’t backing down.
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In a follow-up interview with FOX LA, the Republican mayor doubled down, insisting he had “no regrets” about the comment — clarifying that he was only referring to unhoused individuals with criminal backgrounds who “refuse” any form of help.
“I made it very clear I was talking about the criminal element that were let out of the prisons that have now become 40 to 45% of what’s referred to as the homeless population,” Parris said.
“They are responsible for most of our robberies, most of our rapes, and at least half of our murders. There’s nothing that we can do for these people.”
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He claimed his comments weren’t meant to be taken literally and suggested that fentanyl – which is highly addictive and contributes to many deaths as it is around 50 times more potent than heroin – is already so easy to obtain that giving it away wouldn’t really change anything.
Then came the kicker — Parris called for a “purge.”
“Quite frankly, I wish that the president would give us a purge. Because we do need to purge these people,” he said.
“Now, is it harsh? Of course, it is harsh. But it’s my obligation as the mayor of the city of Lancaster to protect the hardworking families that live there, and I am no longer able to do it … It’s an untenable situation and I’m open to any solution … I want these people out of our city.”
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Parris, who’s held office since 2008 and once proposed banning neckties in the workplace for health reasons, is now facing serious backlash. A recall campaign has been launched, and critics are coming in hot.
Johnathon Ervin, a Democrat who ran against Parris in the last mayoral election, was blunt in his criticism.
“Anyone willing to give homeless people all the fentanyl they want, or to suggest that President Trump should allow a purge of the homeless population, has no business in public office,” Ervin told the Los Angeles Times.
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Still, the petition to recall Parris has only reached 6% of its 20,000-signature goal so far. The mayor’s current term doesn’t end until April 2028 — meaning he’s not going anywhere unless voters make it happen.