O'Neil Affirms Support for Pro-White Group

By Anthony Flint
The Boston Globe, Friday, January 15, 1999, p. B3

Councilor at Large Albert L. "Dapper" O'Neil confirmed yesterday that he supports the Council of Conservative Citizens, a pro-white group that has recently ensnarled US Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott in controversy because of his associations with it.

The Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups, alleges that the Council of Conservative Citizens has white-supremacist views and members and aided segregation efforts.

After reports surfaced that Lott had addressed the group, he attempted to distance himself from it.

But O'Neil, who is cited in the council's literature as one of severalpoliticians who have endorsed the group, did not distance himself.

"I'm not a member of it, but they are a good group," O'Neil said yesterday.   "They are concerned about this country and what goes on in it."   O'Neil said the council raises issues that aren't raised by mainstream newspapers.   "I don't care which group says this or that about it."

O'Neil's comments come a days after he was the sole "nay" vote on a resolution by Councilor Charles C. Yancey (Dorchester) to construct a statue of martin Luther King Jr. near City Hall.

Asked yesterday why he voted against it, he said:  "Because I don't make deals at the City Council.  I vote any way I want."  O'Neil went on to say he had placed a call to Chicago Mayor Richard Daley because "Martin Luther King made a speech there [in Chicago] and they nearly burned it down the next day."

O'Neil, who has been on the City Council more than a quarter century, did not elaborate.