A Democratic state representative has apologized for telling a white colleague that when he campaign in a majority black are he was door knocking in a “N-word district.”
Legislative Black Caucus members of the Maryland House of Delegates confronted Del. Mary Ann Lisanti over allegations she used the racial slur. Del. Darryl Barnes, the Black Caucus chairman, told the Washington Post: “She apologized several times. She recognizes how she has hurt so many within the caucus, and she hopes to repent from this.”
Lisanti is said to have used the word at a cigar bar in Annapolis, the state capital, during an after-hours gathering of a group of lawmakers.
Lisanti, 51, said: “I don’t recall that … I don’t recall much of that evening.” When asked if she had ever used the N-word, she said: “I’m sure I have … I’m sure everyone has used it. I’ve used the F-word. I used the Lord’s name in vain.” She was talking to a colleague about his campaign work in Prince George’s County, an affluent Washington D.C. suburb with a 62 percent African-American population.
Democratic leaders in the state House have called for Lisanti to step down. House Speaker Michael Busch, a Democrat, said she should “face the consequences” of what she said. “There is no place in the House of Delegates for any racial slurs, or slurs of any kind in society in general.”
The scandal comes after Virginia’s Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam and his attorney general, Democrat Mark Herring, both admitted to wearing blackface, stirring talks about the role race and racism plays in politics.
Lisanti said in a statement: “I deeply apologize to the citizens of my district, people of Maryland, all of my colleagues in the Maryland General Assembly and everyone reading this for my word choice several weeks ago. I am sickened that a word that is not in my vocabulary came out of my mouth. It does not represent my belief system, my life’s work or what is in my heart.”
Barnes said in a Thursday letter to Lisanti: “It is clear you are unsuited to continue as a member of the Maryland General Assembly … we hope that you will do what is right and step down.”
The official statement of the @BlackCaucusMD to Delegate Mary Ann Lisanti. Chairwoman @MayaRockeymoore joins them in calling for Delegate Lisanti’s resignation. #MDgov #MDpolitics pic.twitter.com/VFyxMecAlj
— MD Democratic Party (@mddems) February 27, 2019
Maryland’s Republican Gov. Larry Hogan also joined in calls for Lisanti to step down, saying on Twitter: “The language of racism and hate has no place in our public discourse. Any public official who engages in this reprehensible conduct should do the right thing and step down.”
The language of racism and hate has no place in our public discourse. Any public official who engages in this reprehensible conduct should do the right thing and step down. https://t.co/8i4vabR4W9
— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) February 27, 2019
In addition, the Maryland Republican Party and Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., have called for her resignation.
