Haitian Immigrant, Now a N.Y. Legislator, "Jokes" About Shooting Immigrant Day Laborers
" Immigrant-rights groups, civil libertarians and union leaders Tuesday blasted a controversial anti-loitering bill, telling Suffolk County lawmakers that it would spur racial discrimination and undermine the ability of striking employees and others to protest injustices. But the most startling moment in the two-hour hearing came when Legis. Elie Mystal said he "would load up my gun and start shooting" if dozens of immigrants were congregating along streets in his neighborhood looking for work. Later, the Amityville Democrat and longtime opponent of local immigration measures said his remark was meant in jest. "I'm very sorry for making that comment. I misspoke," he said in an interview." JAMES T. MADORE in Newsday.
Mystal apologized again at a news conference in his office, flanked by Latino advocate Rev. Allan Ramirez, who accepted Mystal's apology because "this is the season of Lent." BART JONES in Newsday.