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Detroit Rep. Bettie Cook Scott apologizes for racist remarks
State Rep. Bettie Cook Scott released an apology through her lawyer on Thursday after reports emerged that she had used racial slurs to describe her opponent in the Democratic primary for a Detroit state Senate seat.
"I deeply regret the comments I made that have proven hurtful to so many. Those are words I never should have said," Scott said in the statement. "I humbly apologize to Representative (Stephanie) Chang, her husband, Mr. Gray, and to the broader Asian-American community for those disparaging remarks. In the divisive age we find ourselves in, I should not contribute further to that divisiveness."
Scott added that she had "reached out to Representative Chang to meet with her so that I may apologize to her in person. I pray she and the Asian-American community can find it in their hearts to forgive me."
State Rep. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit)
Bill Noakes, Scott's attorney, told the Free Press that he expects Scott and Chang will meet in person on Wednesday or Thursday of next week and that Scott will apologize again then.
https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2018/08/17/detroit-bettie-cook-scott-racist-chang/1019304002/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
"I deeply regret the comments I made that have proven hurtful to so many. Those are words I never should have said," Scott said in the statement. "I humbly apologize to Representative (Stephanie) Chang, her husband, Mr. Gray, and to the broader Asian-American community for those disparaging remarks. In the divisive age we find ourselves in, I should not contribute further to that divisiveness."
Scott added that she had "reached out to Representative Chang to meet with her so that I may apologize to her in person. I pray she and the Asian-American community can find it in their hearts to forgive me."
State Rep. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit)
Bill Noakes, Scott's attorney, told the Free Press that he expects Scott and Chang will meet in person on Wednesday or Thursday of next week and that Scott will apologize again then.
https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2018/08/17/detroit-bettie-cook-scott-racist-chang/1019304002/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
More background:
Detroit Rep. Bettie Cook Scott on Asian opponent: 'Don't vote for the ching-chong!'
...
Scott is alleged to have referred to Chang as "ching-chang" and "the ching-chong" to multiple voters outside polling precincts during last Tuesday's election. She's also said to have called one of Chang's campaign volunteers an “immigrant,” saying “you don’t belong here” and “I want you out of my country.”
...
"These comments are offensive to all Asian-Americans," Chang tells Metro Times. "It isn't about me. It's about an elected official disrespecting entire populations, whether they be Asian-American, immigrant, or residents of Sen. District 1 or [Cook's] own current house district."
The various off-color remarks were heard by multiple people connected with Chang, including Chang's husband, who spoke with Metro Times. Sean Gray says after overhearing Cook disparage Chang outside a precinct on the east side of Detroit, "I ... asked her not to speak about my wife in that manner. At that time she said to the voter that 'these immigrants from China are coming over and taking our community from us.' Further, she said it 'disgusts her seeing black people holding signs for these Asians and not supporting their own people.'"
Gray, who is black, says Scott then went on to call him a "fool" for marrying Chang.
...
"As an African-American woman, I've been called the N-word before in my life and you never forget it," says Long. "Each time it's shocking and appalling and disgusting, so when you hear someone that's a minority and a woman using slurs against another minority that's a woman, it's just mind boggling and it just felt dirty."
https://www.metrotimes.com/news-hits/archives/2018/08/16/detroit-rep-bettie-cook-scott-on-asian-opponent-dont-vote-for-the-ching-chong
...
Scott is alleged to have referred to Chang as "ching-chang" and "the ching-chong" to multiple voters outside polling precincts during last Tuesday's election. She's also said to have called one of Chang's campaign volunteers an “immigrant,” saying “you don’t belong here” and “I want you out of my country.”
...
"These comments are offensive to all Asian-Americans," Chang tells Metro Times. "It isn't about me. It's about an elected official disrespecting entire populations, whether they be Asian-American, immigrant, or residents of Sen. District 1 or [Cook's] own current house district."
The various off-color remarks were heard by multiple people connected with Chang, including Chang's husband, who spoke with Metro Times. Sean Gray says after overhearing Cook disparage Chang outside a precinct on the east side of Detroit, "I ... asked her not to speak about my wife in that manner. At that time she said to the voter that 'these immigrants from China are coming over and taking our community from us.' Further, she said it 'disgusts her seeing black people holding signs for these Asians and not supporting their own people.'"
Gray, who is black, says Scott then went on to call him a "fool" for marrying Chang.
...
"As an African-American woman, I've been called the N-word before in my life and you never forget it," says Long. "Each time it's shocking and appalling and disgusting, so when you hear someone that's a minority and a woman using slurs against another minority that's a woman, it's just mind boggling and it just felt dirty."
https://www.metrotimes.com/news-hits/archives/2018/08/16/detroit-rep-bettie-cook-scott-on-asian-opponent-dont-vote-for-the-ching-chong
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