This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2006, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

James Evans - the Salt Lake County Republican Party chairman, who is black - is accusing Mayor Rocky Anderson of calling him a "slave."

During Anderson's speech at an anti-Bush protest Wednesday, the Democratic mayor ad-libbed during the beginning of his speech and called out Evans:

"So, to James Evans and these folks who financed this massive radio campaign these last few days [urging Anderson to forgo the protest], let them finally understand, blind faith in bad leaders is not patriotism.

"A patriot does not tell people who are intensely concerned about their country to just sit down and be quiet; to refrain from speaking out in the name of politeness or for the sake of being a good host; or to show slavish, blind obedience and deference to a dishonest, war-mongering, human-rights-violating president."

Saying Anderson is an "expert" with his words, Evans noted the mayor didn't refer to others by name who criticized Anderson for his protest.

"I can't believe he just called me a slave. He was saying James Evans is a slave to the Republican Party and to President Bush."

Evans is demanding a public apology. "If he were a white Republican male and I were a Democrat and I said, 'Hey, I'm calling you on this,' the media would be all over it."

Anderson released a statement calling Evans' claim "absurd."

"In the past, James Evans has gone to great lengths to attack me in the most partisan manner, but never did I think he could stoop so low and get it so wrong. I recommend that all residents read or listen to my speech and determine for themselves whether there is any basis for James' twisted interpretation.

"I didn't even refer to James or the Republicans who financed the recent radio campaign against dissent in my written speech, but was moved while delivering the speech to make reference to them because of their partisan support of this disastrous presidency."

The two started sparring when Evans was in the state Senate representing the west side of Salt Lake City.