YOUNGSTOWN - Members of Youngstown City Council have responded to a letter from Arab American Community Center President Suhad Hadi regarding a recent social media post from newly elected President of Council and current Sixth Ward Councilwoman Anita Davis.

The letter was written to Youngstown City Council members, as well as Youngstown Mayor-Elect Derrick McDowell and current Mayor Tito Brown, in response to a post on Davis's Facebook congratulating a Youngstown police officer on his retirement.

Part of that post referenced the time when the two first met, with Davis remarking that she thought he was an "Arab terrorist" at first. The post was edited days later with that line taken out of it.

21 News reached out to Youngstown City Council members for comment. 

Third Ward Councilwoman Samantha Turner said Davis's remarks were wrong and that she "needs to be more careful with her words." Turner added that Hadi was well within her rights to demand an apology from Davis.

Davis has since gone on record to apologize for the post, saying she was referencing a time period of anti-Muslim hysteria following the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center.

"I was recollecting how we first met, and the backwards thinking we had back then about members of the Arabic-American Community. ... That was a thought process from way back then. I've gone way beyond that kind of mindset," Davis said.

However, Seventh Ward Councilwoman Amber White said Davis's apology does not erase the impact of what was said.

"The use of any stereotype, regardless of context or intent, is harmful. Such language does a profound disservice to the thousands of Arab-Americans who are woven into the very fabric of Youngstown as our neighbors, business owners, healthcare professionals and community leaders," White said.

21 News has reached out to all other members of City Council, as well as Mayor-Elect McDowell and Mayor Brown and we're waiting to hear back.