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State Sen. Parker Yells, Accuses Colleague Of Racism
By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 28, 2010
Modified Apr 28, 2010
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By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 28, 2010
Modified Apr 28, 2010
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State Senator Kevin Parker (D-Brooklyn) is known for his outbursts—for instance, he was arrested last year for allegedly assaulting a NY Post photographer staked outside Parker's house (the Post was doing a story about Parker's house being close to repossession)—but yesterday was a new chapter, when he, as Daily Politics put it, "went aggro after getting the sense that [Republican] colleague John DeFrancisco was 'berating' Power Authority nominee Mark O'Luck" during a State Senate Finance Committee meeting. In fact, Parker yelled "How dare you? You racist people in here!" and "I've never seen a white appointee be treated like this, in such rude fashion!"
O'Luck is black and DeFrancisco is white; DeFrancisco was apparently questioning O'Luck about a comment he made on CityRoom a year ago, about how if not for programs for minorities and the poor, whites and rich people would have 100% access to government funding. According to a transcript from Capitol Tonight:
Parker, who is speaking off camera, starts yelling at DeFrancisco roughly one minute later, saying: “You are totally out of order! You are out of order!…How dare you!”
Sen. Carl Kruger, the committee chairman, tries in vain to get Parker to calm down and then shouts: “You’re out of order…Why don’t you step outside?”
Parker retorts: “Why doesn’t everybody step outside?..You’re allowing somebody to treat an appointee of the governor in a very disrespectful way.”
Kruger shoots back: “You’re disrespecting me as the chairman. I ruled you out of order. One more outburst like that, and I’ll ask you to be removed.”
Parker: “OK, then get somebody to remove me. Bring people though.
Kruger: “And I’ll ignore that remark.”
Parker (leaving): “Good.”
Parker later told the Daily Politics, "We’re all prone to hyperbole," but on his Facebook status now reads, "In Albany fighting the evil of White Supremacy! In the NYS Senate an beyond! Dr. Height! Dr. Hooks! We remember you ad honor your legacy!" Here's video; Parker's outburst begins around the 20 minute mark (and it's loud):
Senate Democratic conference spokesman Austin Shafran said of the incident, "Senator Parker is a passionate and engaged advocate, especially when it comes to defending underprivileged communities. During the course of public debate, discussions became somewhat heated. End of story."
Tagged
freakout
kevin parker
racism
state senate
State Senator Kevin Parker
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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