California Mayor Sparks Firestorm with “Free Fentanyl” Comment, Calls for Federal ‘Purge’ of Homeless Population
Lancaster, California — Mayor R. Rex Parris, a Republican and longtime controversial figure in the Antelope Valley, is under intense fire after advocating the distribution of free fentanyl to homeless individuals and calling for a federal “purge” of what he describes as the criminal element of the homeless population.
“Give Them All the Fentanyl They Want”
During a February 25 city council meeting, Parris shocked attendees by suggesting the city’s homelessness crisis could be addressed by offering drugs instead of services.
“What I want to do is give them free fentanyl. That’s what I want to do. I want to give them all the fentanyl they want,” he said in response to a resident’s question.
The remark was met with immediate backlash, with critics accusing the mayor of promoting genocide, vigilante ideology, and further dehumanizing the vulnerable.
Doubling Down on Fox News
Parris later appeared on Fox 11 to clarify, but not retract, his comments. He claimed he was speaking about the “criminal element” within the homeless population — particularly individuals released from prisons who, he alleges, are responsible for a large percentage of violent crime in Lancaster.
“I don’t regret saying it,” he told the network. “These people are killing our citizens… They have no respect for law and order.”
He further explained that fentanyl is already easily accessible on the streets, and that giving it away “wouldn’t change anything.”
Calls for a “Purge”
Taking his rhetoric even further, Parris urged the federal government to authorize a “purge” of the homeless population.
“Quite frankly, I wish the president would give us a purge. Because we do need to purge these people,” he said.
He added:
“It’s my obligation as mayor to protect the hardworking families that live here. And I am no longer able to do it… I want these people out of our city.”
Parris emphasized that his concern lies with repeat offenders and violent individuals who he says now make up 40–45% of Lancaster’s homeless population. Without citing data, he claimed they are responsible for “most of our robberies, most of our rapes, and at least half of our murders.”
Recall Effort Gains Steam
In response to his remarks, a recall campaign has been launched, accusing Parris of mismanagement, inflammatory rhetoric, and failure to provide compassionate leadership. While the petition has only gathered 6% of the 20,000 signatures needed, organizers vow to keep pressing.
“Lancaster deserves leadership that listens, serves, and uplifts the community – not one that divides and exploits it,” reads the recall statement.
A History of Controversy
Mayor Parris is no stranger to controversy. His prior moves — including extending mayoral terms from two to four years and pushing aggressive crime policies — have earned him praise from some conservatives but drawn consistent criticism from civil rights groups and progressive activists.
Fallout and Reactions
Advocates for the homeless have condemned Parris’s comments as reckless, dehumanizing, and dangerous. Public health experts warn that rhetoric like this could worsen stigmas, hinder outreach efforts, and fuel violence against vulnerable populations.
Despite the backlash, Parris has shown no sign of backing down, maintaining that his top priority is public safety, even if it means proposing radical — and in the eyes of many, inhumane — solutions.
As Lancaster reels from the fallout, the national spotlight is once again focused on the increasingly volatile intersection of homelessness, crime, and political rhetoric in American cities.