State Lawmaker Apologizes For Racial Remarks
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – A DeSoto County House member is apologizing for remarks he made to a newspaper about black people in his hometown.
Rep. Gene Alday, a Walls Republican, made a brief speech Tuesday as the House began business, describing himself as “deeply sorry.”
Alday told The Clarion-Ledger newspaper in a story Sunday that in Walls, the town where he was once mayor and police chief, “all the blacks are getting food stamps and what I call ‘welfare crazy checks.’ They don’t work.”
Gov. Phil Bryant and House Speaker Philip Gunn issued statements Monday condemning the remarks as racist.
Democrats are also criticizing the statements, with some questioning whether Alday’s remarks help explain Republican inaction on issues pushed by Democrats.
Alday says he will seek re-election and is rejecting calls for his resignation.
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