Amid calls for her to resign, a white Democratic member of the Maryland House of Representatives has apologized for reportedly characterizing a legislative district in Prince George’s County as an N-word district while hanging out at an Annapolis cigar bar.
Del. Mary Ann Lisanti, 51, said she was “sickened” by her alleged remarks and privately apologized to her colleagues after she to approached by leaders of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland. She has also apologized publicly.
“She apologized several times,” Del. Darryl Barnes, who heads the Black Caucus, told the Washington Post. “She recognizes how she has hurt so many within the caucus, and she hoped to repent from this. She said that she doesn’t remember fully what happened, but she recognizes what happened.”
Even so, Barnes characterized the apology as “woefully inadequate” and has called on House Speaker Michael Busch to further penalize Lisanti. The Black Caucus and other groups have since called for Lisanti’s resignation.
“We know she is one of our colleagues, we know she is a Democrat, but party has nothing to do with the hatred and bigotry that comes out of someone’s mouth,” Barnes said.
“There is no place in the House of Delegates for that type of language to be used,” Barnes said. “It is unacceptable, it is offensive and it is very hurtful.”
Although Lisanti doesn’t have a clear recollection of the incident and the specific evening in question, she is certain she has used the racial slur in the past because “everyone” has used it.
“I’m sure I have … I’m sure everyone has used it,” Lisanti told the Post. “I’ve used the f-word. I used the Lord’s name in vain.”
The Washington Post previously reported that Lisanti’s controversial comment was made in January in the presence of Del. Jay Walker of Prince George’s County during an after-hours gathering at Annapolis Cigar. Walker, a former professional quarterback, said he confronted Lisanti about her use of the term privately.
“I was leaning on my time in football,” Walker said. “It was something I had to handle inside the locker room, and I handled it appropriately. I made my disappointment known. When she apologized, I told her how disappointed I was.”
Lisanti has since issued a public apology to the House Democratic Caucus for her comments.
“I deeply apologize … for my word choice several weeks ago,” Lisanti said in a statement to the House Democratic Caucus. “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 my heart.”
She also directly addressed her constituents and begged them to forgive her.
“It is my hope and prayer that you … can forgive me for the pain that I have caused, and help me to mend what I have broken,” she said. “I will continue work every day to repent for my actions and represent my constituents.”
In light of her alleged remarks, Lisanti will undergo sensitivity training, according to Busch. She will no longer chair a House subcommittee either.
“I hope that through sensitivity training that Delegate Lisanti has agreed to and the help of her colleagues, she will develop a greater understanding of the impact that she has had on her fellow legislators and the entire House of Delegates,” Busch said in a statement.
