Connecticut Mayor Apologizes for Taco Crack
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Hemera/Thinkstock(EAST HAVEN, Conn.) — An East Haven, Conn., mayor is in hot water after saying he would connect with his town’s Latino community by having tacos for dinner.
His comments came hours after four East Haven police officers were arrested Tuesday by the FBI for civil rights violations after allegedly using excessive force against Latinos.
When asked by a reporter what he would do for the Latino community, Mayor Joseph Maturo responded, “I might have tacos when I go home. I’m not quite sure yet.”
And when the reporter pointed out that, “that’s not really the comment to say right now,” Maturo continued: “I might have spaghetti tonight, being of Italian descent,” he said. “I could go out and have, I’ve had ethnic food and when you asked me what I was doing for Latinos tonight, I may go out and have a Latino dinner in the Latino community. There’s nothing wrong with that. And you can twist it and turn it whichever way the press decides to do.”
Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy was quick to condemn the comments, saying in a statement Wednesday that Maturo’s statements were “repugnant” and “unacceptable.”
Maturo apologized shortly Wednesday in both a radio interview and an official statement.
Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio