Tazewell County Board member Jay Hall has resigned from leadership of Pekin AMBUCS after he made controversial comments on social media about teen climate activist Greta Thunberg.
Hall is a rural Pekin Republican representing District 1. In a recent Facebook post, Hall said Thunberg looks like she has "mongoloidism...Down syndrome."
The term is considered dated, and a slur for people of Asian descent. Thunberg has Asperger's.
Hall was also president of Pekin AMBUCS, an organization that seeks to help people with disabilities.
The group announced Hall's resignation as president on Thursday.
"Recently, Pekin AMBUCS member Jay Hall made some inappropriate comments on Facebook. His comments do not, in anyway, reflect the views of the Pekin AMBUCS organization and its other members," said the group in an unsigned statement.
Pekin AMBUCS said a new interim president will be appointed.
Hall is still serving on the Tazewell County Board. His term expires in 2022.
Hall has not returned our request for comment.
