Rep. Winkler under fire for comments on Asian Americans

Mar. 24—HARTFORD — After making disparaging comments about Asian Americans during a public hearing Monday that drew the ire of both Republicans and Democrats, including his caucus leaders, Rep. Michael Winkler, D-Vernon, has issued an apology for his "hurtful comments."

During a public hearing before the legislature's Planning and Development Committee in which legislation is being considered to address segregated housing, Winkler sparred with Greenwich Housing Authority Chairman Sam Romeo, who said racism isn't responsible for segregated housing in his town, noting that 37% of Greenwich residents are minorities.

"You count Asians and other minorities that have never been discriminated against," Winkler said to Romeo.

Asian Americans have a long history of discrimination, including being forced into internment camps during World War II and being targets of anti-Asian crimes that have spiked recently in the United States.

HURTFUL COMMENTS

WINKLER DURING HEARING: Asian-Americans "have never been discriminated against."

WINKLER A DAY LATER: Clarified his remarks saying his focus was on discrimination against Black people.

DENOUNCED: House leadership from both parties, as well as Attorney General William Tong, denounced Winkler's comments.

FACT: Asian Americans have faced a long history of racism, including being forced into internment camps during World War II and have increasingly been the targets of anti-Asian crimes over the last year.

Winkler's comments elicited an immediate response from committee members, including House Chairwoman Rep. Crisitin McCarthy Vehey, D-Fairfield, as well as ranking member Sen. Tony Hwang, R-Fairfield.

Hwang said Winkler's comments were "beyond inflammatory, beyond derogatory, and beyond ignorance. ... I am absolutely disappointed and I am infuriated."

During the meeting, Winkler attempted to clarify his comments, saying his focus was on the discrimination of Blacks seeking housing.

"Every immigrant group has been discriminated against in the past and is being discriminated against currently, but Blacks have suffered the most," he said. "Every immigrant group that has come in has risen through and above the Blacks. While other immigrant groups, one after the other, the Polish, the Irish, whatever, came in and rose up, Blacks have always been at the bottom and have remained there, and so they're the group that I look to when I'm trying to judge how well people are doing, who are the most downtrodden, the most oppressed."

He continued: "That's my focus. ... Every group's been discriminated against, but my focus is on the Blacks and I will continue to do that."

Hwang responded that Winkler's statement "doesn't seem like an apology to me," while addressing Winkler directly, a practice that is normally prohibited during legislative debates.

Winkler's comments drew the ire of Republican and Democratic House leaders, as well as that of Attorney General William Tong, the first Asian American to hold the position in state history.

"I'd like to say I cannot believe that Rep. Winkler would say that Asian-Americans do not count and have not been discriminated against," Tong said in a written statement. "Except, I can believe it because I was asked myself as a member of the House of Representatives during a debate whether Asian-Americans count as people of color. Let me assure you that Asian-Americans count and the hate and discrimination against us is real, and it has gotten people hurt and killed."

He noted the long history of racism Asian Americans have faced, including the internment camps, the murders last week in Atlanta, and former President "Donald Trump's malicious scapegoating of Asian-Americans for his own failure to respond to the coronavirus pandemic."

"The history of bias and hate against Asian-Americans in this country is long and largely visible, an unfortunate reality that has been highlighted by the ignorant comments made by Rep. Winkler," Tong said. "The myth of the so-called 'model-minority' is a dangerous fiction that for too long has allowed this country to erase and ignore this shameful history."

House Majority Leader Jason Rojas, D-East Hartford, said he was "saddened and offended" by Winkler's comments.

"There is no place for such statements against any group of people who have faced clearly documented acts of persecution in our society," Rojas said. "In particular, we should never attempt to rank or judge whether one group of people has faced more discrimination than another."

Likewise, House Speaker Matthew Ritter, D-Hartford, said in a written statement that Winkler was "wrong to question or downplay" the experience of those of Asian descent and the racism they face.

"Though Rep. Michael Winkler recognized the pain he caused with his words and apologized, he has more work to do to make this right," Ritter said. "My hope is he will have conversations with members of the Asian community in Vernon and beyond."

House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, said he was disappointed in Winkler's comments and his "failure to immediately acknowledge the impact of his appalling attempt to minimize the historical discrimination and bias against Asian-Americans in our country."

Winkler issued his written statement Tuesday afternoon, in which he apologized to all Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders for his comments.

"My comments are inexcusable, especially with the recent rise in violence against Asian-Americans," he said. "There is a long, painful history of Asian-Americans experiencing racism in this country, and I sincerely regret that I ignored that history and those experiences in my comments."

In his written statement, Winkler apologized directly to Hwang and Rep. Kimberly Fiorello, R-Greenwich, both of whom are Asian American.

"Discrimination against any group is wrong," Winkler said. "Moving forward, I want to work to ensure that I truly understand and recognize the experiences of those who unfortunately know what it's like to be discriminated against in areas such as work, education, housing, and more. I again want to apologize for my hurtful comments."

Candelora praised Hwang and Fiorello for their "powerful yet measured responses" during Monday's meeting, as well as the ability of McCarthy Vehey to navigate "a tense situation fueled by the tone-deaf attitude of her caucus colleague."

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