Democratic legislator Scott chastised for racist comments
By Da Hang
People's Daily app
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(Photo: Detroit Metro Times)

Michigan state Rep. Bettie Cook Scott, who recently ran for a seat in the Michigan state Senate, is under fire for referring to opponent and state Rep. Stephanie Chang as “Ching Chong” along with other derogatory comments, according to the Detroit Metro Times.

Scott is also accused of making various off-color remarks toward voters who supported Chang in the election.

“At that time, she claimed the immigrants from China are ‘coming over and taking out community from us’,” Sean Gray, Chang’s husband, said. “She said it ‘disgusts her seeing black people holding signs for Asians and not supporting their own people’.”

This is not the first time Scott has used racist rhetoric, since she once said “Don’t vote for that Ching Chong” when referring to Chang. 

Multiple organizations and individuals are now demanding that Scott apologize for her comments.

“We expect better from anyone who wants to call themselves a Michigan Democrat,” Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party Brandon Dillon said. “Bettie Cook Scott needs to apologize to the entire Asian-American community. If an individual doesn’t share our fundamental values of tolerance, decency, and respect – they should find another party."

On Friday, Scott issued a statement through her lawyer, in which she apologized to Chang, her husband, and the Asian-American community for her disparaging remarks.

“In the divisive age we find ourselves in, I should not contribute further to that divisiveness,” Scott said in the statement.

Chang won the August 7 election for state Senate District 1 with 49 percent of the vote, while Scott lost with 11 percent.