This letter is in response to The Advocate-Messenger’s article regarding Danville businessman, Tim Montgomery, and false accusations of racism.

I’ve known Tim for 50 years and I’ve never witnessed racism, nor have I viewed any social post that should disqualify him from serving on local boards.

There are three false charges that represent the most heinous and evil nature of mankind, one is the false accusation of murder, the others are rape and racism.

Mistakes are sometimes made in accusations. However, the words “mistake” and “evil” are not synonyms. We can make mistakes on emotion, but when we take time to make statements for public consumption, specifically in writing, it’s more than emotion, it’s acting on logic, and doesn’t it define, in part, our heart and character?

And when evidence does not support the accusation, doesn’t it expose the character of the accuser? Such actions seem more than a physical war of ideas and personalities, but a spiritual war of unseen principalities. Good versus evil.

Mr. Montgomery has served this community for years, most recently appointed to the Danville-Boyle County Convention and Visitors Board and Birthplace of Kentucky, where his business expertise at times may pose uncomfortable questions for some members to answer. He’s also been active politically as past chairman and current treasurer for the Republican party.  And now it seems he’s targeted, for of all things, his political post that represents his conservative leanings.

Tim also posted support for individuals such as; Dr. Ben Carson, Candace Owens, Thomas Sowell and Daniel Cameron to name a few. These are Americans of African heritage. Racist? However, they’re “conservative” Black Americans which begs the question as to what the real motivation is regarding the false charges made by the group, United for Change and their leader, Cheryl Burton, who’s a write-in candidate for city commissioner, and Commissioner Adkins, whose comments seem to imply Mr. Montgomery, should leave town?

Others have gotten on the bandwagon.

Birthplace of Kentucky chairman Ben Miles implied Tim’s postings as hateful. Isn’t this more about who’s doing the defining? There’s nothing more hateful and spineless than a coordinated bullying mob mentality that attacks with false accusations.

Dr. Martin Luther King said he looked to the day that his children would not be judged by the color of their skin but by the “content of their character.”  What does this tell us about the “character of Montgomery’s accusers?”

Randy Gip Graham

Danville