Note to readers: Post is dropping the 'Dilbert' comic strip because of creator Scott Adams' racist rant

The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today Network of 200-plus newspapers, will no longer publish the "Dilbert" comic strip effective Feb. 28.

Recent racist comments by the cartoon's creator, Scott Adams, have influenced our decision to discontinue his comic. Those views do not align with our editorial or business values as an organization. And yes, the fact that Adams' hateful and racist remarks came during Black History Month — most notably, referring to Black people as a "hate group" — was especially hurtful and damaging to this newspaper's efforts toward a civil, inclusive community.

This was not a tough call.

At The Post, we seek to lead with inclusion and equity, and strive to maintain a respectful environment for everyone across the diverse communities we serve. As I noted in my most recent "Your Week" newsletter, our diversity and inclusion is what makes our county exceptional.

While we respect and encourage free speech, we will not provide a platform for individuals who counter our values.

Unfortunately, readers will likely continue to see the comic strip in our daily Accent section for several more days as it is planned and laid out in advance. And until we decide what to replace "Dilbert" with, you’ll likely see a gray box where it has been appearing.

Rick Christie is Executive Editor of the Palm Beach Post and Deputy Regional for Southeast Florida for the USAT Network-Florida. He can be reached at rchristie@pbpost.com and found on Twitter at @rchristiepbp. Subscribe to independent reporting that supports democracy via subscribe.palmbeachpost.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach Post dropping 'Dilbert' after Scott Adams' racist rant