Mayor Karen Peconi of Arnold, Pennsylvania, is trying to take us back to 1963, y'all.

The mayor of the suburban community outside of Pittsburgh issued an apology Wednesday, June 27, after screenshots of her personal Facebook page urging protesters be sprayed with water hoses surfaced, WTAE reports.  

The Facebook post called for "rioters to be destroyed by a water canon [sic]," which, of course, incited anger throughout the black community in the local area and online.

The protesters Peconi referred to in the post have been demonstrating in Pittsburgh, seeking justice for Antwon Rose Jr., a black 17-year-old killed by an East Pittsburgh police officer.

"I love this community, I would do anything for the people here. I don't take my position as mayor lightly and deeply regret the comments I made on Facebook. It was never my intention to offend anyone, and for those who I offended I am sincerely sorry," Mayor Peconi said in a statement.

Peconi not only posted her thoughts on water cannons but also made similar statements in other posts and comments. 

"I'm posting this so the authorities everywhere sees [sic] this … bring the hoses," read another one of Peconi's Facebook posts. "They don't care about jobs for PGH … none of them work now. That's how they can do this at 7 a.m. Very sad."

The mayor had also reportedly commented on a picture of protesters being sprayed with a large water cannon with, "We need one of these for tomorrow."

Photo: GIPHY

"I was just flabbergasted. This doesn’t concern us here in Arnold. You can take it several different ways," said Arnold City Councilman Philip McKinley. "When she said, 'Those people don’t work in the morning,' you knew what she was talking about." 

McKinley further confirmed Arnold is "predominantly African American." 

Arnold, Westmoreland CountyCIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENTEast PittsburghMayor Karen Peconiprotestorswater hoses