Stevens Calls Behr ‘White Racist Boy’

After a public outburst at fellow San Diego City Councilman Tom Behr during Tuesday’s council meeting, the Rev. George Stevens followed Behr into his office, called him a “white racist boy” and threatened to “kick your ass” before Behr asked him to leave.

Stevens’ initial comments came during routine discussion of the city’s paramedic service, after which the council asked the city manager to provide a report on how to improve service. Behr had taken issue with Stevens’ view of the council debate.

Witnesses to the events gave the following account:

During the meeting, Stevens screamed at Behr not to “show me up!” Afterward, he met Behr in the hallway that leads to the council members’ offices. He began screaming again and called Behr a “white racist boy.” Flustered, Behr retreated to his office and Stevens followed him, warning that “if you show me up again, I’ll kick your ass.” Behr then asked Stevens to leave his office and Stevens did so.

Reached for comment Tuesday night, Behr said little.

“I would prefer to let Mr. Stevens address what happened on the council floor and not categorize it one way or another,” he said. “There is no need for me to dignify his actions with any comment at all.”

Stevens said late Tuesday that he stands by his comments in the council offices: “I have nothing more to add, just write what I said. . . . From what I said, it’s very clear what I mean.”

Those who have watched Stevens and Behr during council meetings have noticed a tension between the two. Since he took office in December, Stevens has repeatedly championed issues important to African-Americans, such as their ability to win city contracts, and sought ways to aid black-owned businesses.

For his part, Behr, also elected last year in a recall vote, has emphasized the need to help all minorities, rather than one racial group.

“This thing has been building for quite a while,” said one City Council member who asked not to be identified. “At the council meeting, Stevens just came unglued. He took off on the issue and went into orbit.”

Stevens’ fiery temper is well-documented. A local civil rights leader of the late 1960s and early ‘70s, Stevens spoke then of “hating white people with a black passion.” During community meetings, he would sometimes overturn tables and shout obscenities to make his point.

During last year’s district election, he unseated black City Councilman Wes Pratt by convincing constituents of the primarily African-American 4th District that Pratt had not done enough for his community.

Shortly after taking office, Stevens held a mock funeral service for the phrase “Southeast San Diego,” the area of the city he represents, saying it had become a pejorative term that lumps together many distinct communities.