Houston Mayor John Whitmore is taking steps to permanently remove Sade Perkins from the city’s Food Insecurity Board following a controversial TikTok video in which she made racially charged comments about Camp Mystic—a Christian girls’ summer camp in Hunt, Texas, where 27 people, including children, died in last week’s catastrophic flooding.
Perkins’ video, posted on July 5, went viral and drew backlash from across the political spectrum, with critics accusing her of racism and insensitivity amid an ongoing national tragedy. According to a report by the Houston Chronicle on Monday, Mayor Whitmore has initiated formal proceedings to dismiss her from the advisory board.
What Sade Perkins Said
In the now-deleted TikTok clip, Perkins described Camp Mystic as an “all-white, conservative Christian camp,” and questioned whether the national media attention surrounding the missing girls would have been as intense if the victims were from minority communities.
“Camp Mystic is a whites-only, girls’ Christian camp. They don’t even have a token Asian, they don’t have a token Black person… If you ain’t white, you ain’t right,” she said.
“If this were a group of Hispanic girls out there, this would not be getting this type of coverage. No one would give a f—,” she added.
Her comments sparked a wave of criticism online and within city government, especially as families continue to grieve and search-and-rescue efforts remain ongoing in Kerr County. Camp Mystic confirmed the deaths of 27 campers and staff on Monday, with several others still missing.
Mayor Whitmore Responds
In a brief statement, Mayor Whitmore said Perkins’ remarks were “divisive and unacceptable,” and did not reflect the values of the city.
“At a time when our focus should be on unity and compassion, her words were inflammatory and deeply inappropriate,” the mayor said.
While Perkins’ term on the Food Insecurity Board technically expired in January 2025, she had continued to serve in an advisory capacity. Whitmore confirmed she will no longer hold any role with the city.
Background on Perkins
Sade Perkins was originally appointed to the board in 2023 by then-Mayor Sylvester Turner. The Food Insecurity Board is tasked with advising city officials on hunger, nutrition, and access to food resources in Houston.
She has not publicly commented on her removal but has defended her video in follow-up posts, saying she was “calling out racial bias” in media coverage.
Ongoing Tragedy in Central Texas
As of July 8, over 80 people have died due to flash flooding in Central Texas, including at Camp Mystic, where the Guadalupe River rose by over 20 feet in less than two hours. President Donald Trump has declared Kerr County a federal disaster area, unlocking additional aid for rescue and recovery operations.
Perkins’ comments have added controversy to an already heart-wrenching situation, prompting renewed debate over race, media narratives, and accountability in public service.
