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Pennsylvania mayor says he'll fight murder charge in office

Charlie Robertson

(CNN) -- Charlie Robertson, the two-term mayor of York, Pennsylvania, is charged with murder in the killing of an African-American woman during a 1969 race riot. A police officer at the time, Robertson is accused of inciting and providing ammunition to a white gang that killed Lillie Belle Allen.

Robertson denies playing any role in Allen's killing. He spoke to CNN anchor Colleen McEdwards on Friday.

MCEDWARDS: The affidavit that I have seen mentions the phrase "white power," which you mentioned. It also mentions -- I'm looking here at five witnesses who say that they heard you say -- you were a police officer at the time, and this is quoting -- "If I weren't a cop, I would be leading commando raids against niggers in the black neighborhoods." Did you make a statement like that?

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ROBERTSON: That's not correct. No.

MCEDWARDS: Do you consider yourself to ever have been a racist?

ROBERTSON: Yes ... That was back in 1969, when I said "white power." That's not acceptable. That should be corrected. And it is corrected as of now, and has been over many ... years.

MCEDWARDS: The police are accusing you of inciting the crowds, of encouraging violence back in 1969. Did you do anything to incite the crowd when you were, by your own description, a racist at that time?

ROBERTSON: I said "white power" to a crowd of six people. That I'm ashamed of. I should not have said it. And -- but I look to it as being innocent on these charges.

MCEDWARDS: Mayor Robertson, you just said a moment ago that your views on race have changed. How have they changed?

ROBERTSON: Well, certainly through the sensitivity courses, the knowledge, you know, of religion, of working with people to correct the situation back in the early '70s -- the sensitivity course that all policemen had to go through -- and certainly by religious feelings and workings -- been working through the community.

Right after the riots, I was elected to the school board for 10 years, and elected by all people in the community -- also completed 29 years as a policeman. And, also, right now, I'm in my eighth year -- or 7 1/2 years of mayor of the city of York.

MCEDWARDS: And you say that you're going to remain mayor even while this court case plays out. Why not step aside even temporarily?

ROBERTSON: Because I'm innocent of the charges stated in the affidavit.

MCEDWARDS: Mayor, when you look back at that day in 1969, what would you have done differently?

ROBERTSON: Certainly not to say "white power." I know that's wrong. And I always knew now it's wrong from the day that the shooting of Mrs. Allen, which I'm very sorry for, that it happened in York.

But that day when I found her, I was the first one on the scene. I also hopefully saved the lives of several other people that were in the same car she was in.