Powhatan County's Board of Supervisors has condemned racially tinted rhetoric arising from the recent slaying of a popular high school student.

The proclamation, unanimously adopted by the board Monday night, also "warmly commends all those in our county -- young and old, black and white, of every religion -- who are working to knit up this wound and hold us together as a community."

Some Internet postings after the June 24 slaying of Tahliek Taliaferro, 18, portrayed the confrontation leading to the shooting as racially motivated. Taliaferro was African-American. The three people facing murder charges in his slaying are white.

African-Americans make up about 15 percent of Powhatan's population.

County leaders -- white and black -- have downplayed racial problems and dismissed speculation that the shooting was racially motivated.

"A small number of people, most from outside our community, have used this sad occasion to voice insulting, inflammatory, and racist remarks, seeking not to heal but rather to injure individuals and the community further," the resolution reads. "This board, while fully supporting America's commitment to freedom of expression, expresses its rejection and condemnation of the racist comments and incitement to hatred and violence voiced by a very small group of people during the weeks following this community's tragedy."

Board Chairman Robert R. Cosby said all of the supervisors worked on the wording of the proclamation with the intent of "trying to keep our arms around each other" while not giving an opening to those trying to create friction.

"We certainly wanted to take a stand that we are united and . . . [Powhatan] is going forward," Cosby said.
Contact Jamie C. Ruff at (434) 392-6605 or jruff@timesdispatch.com.