Mississippi state Rep. Gene Alday (R) publicly apologized on Tuesday for lamenting that he came from a place where “all blacks are getting food stamps” for not working.
“I didn’t do it with intent, but I am deeply sorry for my recent statements and I was wrong to say what I did and there is no excuse for my behavior,” Alday said to the Mississippi House of Representatives, according to the Jackson Clarion-Ledger. “I value the relationships I’ve made with everyone in this House.”
Alday’s apology referred to an interview he had given the Clarion-Ledger in which he said that he comes “from a town where all the blacks are getting food stamps and what I call ‘welfare crazy checks.’ They don’t work.” Alday also said that when he recently went to the emergency room, he “laid in there for hours because they (blacks) were in there being treated for gunshots.”
After the interview, Alday complained to the newspaper that the interview portrayed him in an unflattering manner.
“I’m not a bad person, and that makes me look like an evil person,” Alday said. “I didn’t do anything wrong. The guy made me look like a fool.”
Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers criticized the comments.
“I am so sorry,” Alday told the House on Tuesday. “I made a great mistake and I appreciate each and every one of you, and feel like y’all are very good to me. Thank you.”
