councilor

“The primary school is full, in fact an extension has just been built,” said Bill Lobban, a local councilor.

But then again, even in Shelby County, Roberts used a case that began when a small Alabama city redistricted a Black councilor out of office —on maps that had not been precleared with the government — as his vehicle to end preclearance and pronounce a new day of sunny racial harmony.

His prior public service, as councilor, then deputy mayor, of a Sydney suburb ended abruptly in 2009 amid displays of undiplomatic temper.

But tourism councilor Simone Venturini was shocked that anyone might be upset that such a high-profile event was happening in the city.

Anab Awale, a district councilor in Mitte who is Somali German, said the nonchalance of German officials toward comfort women revisionism was clear evidence that Germany’s own racial inequalities remain unresolved.