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A Republican state lawmaker in Mississippi is apologizing after saying leaders in Louisiana who took down Confederate monuments should be "lynched."
"I, first and foremost, wish to extend this apology for any embarrassment I have caused to both my colleagues and fellow Mississippians," Karl Oliver said in a statement, according to the Associated Press.
"In an effort to express my passion for preserving all historical monuments, I acknowledge the word 'lynched' was wrong. I am very sorry."
Oliver said the term is never "appropriate."
"I deeply regret that I chose this word, and I do not condone the actions I referenced, nor do I believe them in my heart," he said. "I freely admit my choice of words was horribly wrong, and I humbly ask your forgiveness."
Oliver last weekend spoke out in a Facebook post after New Orleans removed the last of four Confederate status the city decided earlier this year to bring down.
“If the, and I use this term extremely loosely, 'leadership' of Louisiana wishes to, in a Nazi-ish fashion, burn books or destroy historical monuments of OUR HISTORY, they should be LYNCHED!” Oliver wrote in a Saturday Facebook post.
"Let it be known, I will do all in my power to prevent this from happening in our State."
Oliver's comments received criticism, including from New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu.
"Now that everyone can see Mississippi state Rep. Oliver's position on the matter clearly, his message proves our fight to tackle the issue of race head-on is both right and necessary," Landrieu said.
Confederate flags and statues have received fresh criticism following the racially motivated 2015 shooting at an African-American church in Charleston, S.C.
"I, first and foremost, wish to extend this apology for any embarrassment I have caused to both my colleagues and fellow Mississippians," Karl Oliver said in a statement, according to the Associated Press.
"In an effort to express my passion for preserving all historical monuments, I acknowledge the word 'lynched' was wrong. I am very sorry."
Oliver said the term is never "appropriate."
"I deeply regret that I chose this word, and I do not condone the actions I referenced, nor do I believe them in my heart," he said. "I freely admit my choice of words was horribly wrong, and I humbly ask your forgiveness."
Oliver last weekend spoke out in a Facebook post after New Orleans removed the last of four Confederate status the city decided earlier this year to bring down.
“If the, and I use this term extremely loosely, 'leadership' of Louisiana wishes to, in a Nazi-ish fashion, burn books or destroy historical monuments of OUR HISTORY, they should be LYNCHED!” Oliver wrote in a Saturday Facebook post.
"Let it be known, I will do all in my power to prevent this from happening in our State."
Oliver's comments received criticism, including from New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu.
"Now that everyone can see Mississippi state Rep. Oliver's position on the matter clearly, his message proves our fight to tackle the issue of race head-on is both right and necessary," Landrieu said.
Confederate flags and statues have received fresh criticism following the racially motivated 2015 shooting at an African-American church in Charleston, S.C.
