The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People wants Oklahoma lawmaker Sally Kern to resign following her comments that African-Americans face disproportionate rates of imprisonment because they neglect their studies.
Kern, who in the past has compared LGBT people to terrorists and cancer, made the remarks as her state engages in a debate about whether to end affirmative action. Oklahoma lawmakers approved an amendment for consideration by voters in the 2012 election.
In the recent remarks, the lawmaker also said that women demonstrated a weaker work ethic than men because women preferred to spend time at home with their families.
According to KOCO TV, NAACP state president Anthony Douglas wants Kern to resign.
“This is an outrage. We're calling for her to go today. She needs to step down now," he said.
Under the leadership of Benjamin Todd Jealous, the NAACP has accelerated its support of gay rights and sought to recruit more gay leaders and people from diverse racial backgrounds.
Kern apologized for her remarks Thursday. While the speaker of the house Kris Steele said he disagreed with her, he accepted the apology, reports KOCO TV.
State representative Mike Shelton said he wants Kern reprimanded.
"There is no place for those kind of comments on the floor of the Oklahoma House of Representatives or the Oklahoma State Senate," Sheldon said.
On Thursday, Kern released this statement:
“I want to humbly apologize for my statements last night about African-Americans and women. I believe that our government should not provide preference based on race or gender. I misspoke while trying to convey this point last night during debate. Women are some of the hardest workers in the world. My husband is a pastor of a diverse inner-city church and the way that my words came out last night is certainly not my true spirit.”
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