ATWATER — Gary Frago, the Atwater city councilman who sent a series of racist e-mails to city staff and others in late 2008 and early 2009, faced a chorus of outrage on Monday evening as protesters and angry citizens lambasted him at a special council meeting in Atwater's community center

The more than 250 people filling the auditorium included local activists, who picketed outside of the city hall and then marched down Bellevue Avenue, members of the local chapter of the NAACP and residents from across Merced County.

While the City Council voted only to issue Frago a letter of disapproval, the majority of speakers at the heated special meeting asked for Frago's resignation.

But Frago was not without supporters who accepted his apology and said he was not a racist -- just a man who made a mistake.

Tensions were high.

Read the complete story at mercedsunstar.com