Louisiana Rep. Clay Higgins walks back racist comments about Haitians after backlash

Louisiana Rep. Clay Higgins on Thursday retracted feedback he made about Haitian immigrants in a now-deleted social media put up.

“You by no means need to deliberately harm somebody’s emotions, and that put up was meant for Haitian gangs, you perceive?” Higgins, a Republican, informed reporters. “The unintended influence that was expressed very sincerely from certainly one of my colleagues very graciously, that touched me as a gentleman.”

NPR contacted Higgins’ workplace for remark however has not acquired a response.

Higgins has acquired backlash in current days for amplifying false claims about Haitians consuming pets and calling them “thugs” in response to a report by the Related Press. The information group reported that the Haitian Bridge Alliance, a nonprofit group supporting Haitians, is in search of legal prices in opposition to former President Donald Trump and his working mate, JD Vance,

“Lol. These Haitians are wild. Consuming pets, vudu, nastiest nation within the western hemisphere, cults, slapstick gangsters… however damned in the event that they don’t really feel all refined now, submitting prices in opposition to our President and VP,” Higgins wrote on his official account on X. “All these thugs higher get their thoughts proper and their asses out of our nation earlier than January twentieth.”

Requested about his feedback on CNN later Wednesday, Higgins defended the tweet.

“It’s all true,” Higgins mentioned, in accordance with the information group. “I can put up one other controversial put up tomorrow in order for you me to. I imply, we do have freedom of speech. I’ll say what I would like.”

The Congressional Black Caucus on Wednesday condemned his feedback and launched a decision to censure Higgins.

“Referring to Haiti because the “nastiest nation within the western hemisphere” and denigrating Haitians with vile and demeaning phrases goes in opposition to a foundational precept about our nation: that America is a nation of immigrants the place all are welcome,” the caucus mentioned in an announcement. “Each member of Congress should be clear that we have to get rid of hate in all its types. It’s time to flip the web page on this sample of denigrating and villainizing immigrants for political achieve.”

Home Speaker Mike Johnson informed reporters throughout a press convention on Wednesday that Higgins was approached by congressional members in regards to the put up and took it down, saying the lawmaker “regretted” what he posted.

“Clay Higgins is an expensive good friend of mine and a colleague from Louisiana and a really frank and outspoken particular person. He’s additionally a really principled man. I believe – I didn’t even see it – however he tweeted one thing at the moment about Haitians. And he was approached on the ground by colleagues who mentioned that was offensive,” Johnson informed reporters. “I simply talked to him about it, he mentioned he went to the again and he prayed about it and he regretted it. And he pulled the put up down. That’s what you desire a gentleman to do. I’m certain he in all probability regrets a number of the language he used. However you realize, we transfer ahead. We consider in redemption round right here.”

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