State Lawmaker Under Fire Says Comments Not 'Who I Am In My Heart'

State Representative Brad Boles from Marlow is under fire after making a controversial comment about black babies during a debate on abortion.

“In 2017 862,000 babies were aborted, 28% of those babies were colored,” Rep. Boles said on the house floor Tuesday.

The term "colored" is considered offensive and goes back to the Jim Crow era when signs with that word were used for racial segregation.

Boles was quick to apologize for what he calls a slip of the tongue.

In a statement, Boles apologized saying in part, “That was not at all what I intended to say nor who I am in my heart. I apologized immediately in a candid, productive conversation with several colleagues personally, as well as made a public apology on the House floor."

State Representative Monroe Nichols said he understands people get tongue-tied, but said the comment was disrespectful to African Americans.

Nichols said this is a prime example of why lawmakers need cultural sensitivity training.

“I am thankful that he apologized for it, but honestly I think it goes back to something that we have had a debate about in the house quite a bit and that is diversity training,” said Nichols.

Oklahoma ACLU Executive Director Tamya Cox-Touré chapter said it is disgraceful that in 2021 we still have elected officials who use racist rhetoric on the floor of the People's house.

“Rep. Boles and his colleagues should not only commit to engaging in conversations about race equity work with the experts in our state, but also actively check their colleagues on problematic behavior," Cox-Touré said.