DES MOINES, Iowa - A Des Moines City Council meeting is being rescheduled after a cyber-attack.
A video teleconference Thursday night between the council and the Des Moines Civil and Human Rights Commission was hacked with what a city spokesperson calls "racist, sexist and pornographic messages" aimed towards members of the commission.
Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie and Commission chair Kameron Middlebrooks sharply criticized the cyber-attack and vowed to move forward with the city's Bridging the Gap program.
“What occurred proves hate and ignorance is alive and well. But I stand steadfast in my resolve to continue to be an agent of change,” said Middlebrooks. “Our commission has started the path to bridging the gaps we face in our community and will continue to work cooperatively with Council and Des Moines residents to ensure we drive this hate into the darkness and uplift neighbors with love and equitable policies.”
“This was a disgusting and sickening display of racial intolerance that we as Des Moines residents and Iowans can never tolerate, never ignore,” said Cownie. “Those who disrupted with their vile comments have only succeeded in strengthening our objective – this will not impede the steps we’ve made or slow the work that remains in Bridging the Gap in our community.”
Cownie said the city will try to improve the safety and security of all public meetings.