NY Senator: ‘You Racist People In Here’
Sen. Kevin Parker Hurls Racism Accusations At Colleagues In Albany, Calls Republicans ‘White Supremacists’
It looks like the circus and childish antics are rearing their ugly head once again in Albany.
It started as an angry blow-up, and then it escalated. A state senator with a history of anger management issues says his race-based rant was part of his fight against the “evil of white supremacy.”
Brooklyn State Senator Kevin Parker is a well-documented hothead, and on Wednesday he took to the airwaves to unapologetically defend his latest shouting match.
“It’s par for the course for what we have to do in Albany—fighting the forces of evil,” Senator Parker said.
Parker shockingly identified the “enemies” he’s fighting as other senators.
“These long-term, white supremacist, you know, Republican senators,” he said.
That followed a free-for-all shouting match in Albany Tuesday where Parker heatedly objected to the questions asked by a white senator, John DeFrancisco of Syracuse, of a black nominee to the New York State Power Authority.
“John, you are totally out of order, you are out of order,” Parker shouted. “How dare you? You racist people in here.”
Committee Chair Carl Kruger tried in vain to get Parker to calm down.
“You’re out of order—why don’t you step outside,” he told Parker. “You’re disrespecting me as chairman. One more outburst like that and I’ll ask you to be removed.”
Parker didn’t like that one bit.
“Okay, then get somebody to remove me. Bring people though,” Parker said.
There have been other temper tantrums involving the senator. Last year he was accused of felony assault after doing $1,000 in damage to the car of New York Post photographer William Lopez and smashing his camera after he snapped Parker’s picture.
Two years ago, an aide filed charges against Parker, claiming he pushed her during an argument and smashed her glasses. In 2005, Parker was accused of punching a traffic agent in the face. The charges were dropped after parker agreed to take anger management classes.
Senator Parker is due in court next month on the assault case. Sources tell CBS 2 his attorney is trying to cut a no-jail deal, but the district attorney isn’t buying it.
The Brooklyn district attorney would like to try the assault case this summer, before Parker has to stand for reelection in a September primary.