Milwaukee state senator says ‘f**k the suburbs’ during heated debate about crime spreading from major cities to quiet neighborhoods – in moment critics are comparing to Hillary Clinton’s ‘basket of deplorables’
- Democrat LaTonya Johnson has come under fire after she said ‘f**k the suburbs’ after an impassioned speech about gun control in the Wisconsin Senate
- Her comments have split fellow politicians in the senate, and one local journalist has called on her to resign
- Johnson had been debating the Republican state budget and had been speaking about crime spreading from the cities to the suburbs
A Milwaukee state senator said ‘f**k the suburbs’ during a heated debate about crime spreading from major cities to quiet neighborhoods.
LaTonya Johnson burst out with the remark after a speech detailing crime in Milwaukee and gun violence in particular.
At the end of her of speech, the Democrat said: ‘F**k the suburbs, because they don’t know a goddamn thing about how life is in the city.’
She had been in the state senate debating the Republican-written state budget on Wednesday night.
Her comments have split fellow politicians in the senate, and one local journalist has called on her to resign.
Johnson, pictured here on Wednesday night, delivered the remarks after a speech on crime
Wisconsin senate speaker Robin Vos tweeted: ‘Elected officials say dumb things occasionally and when that happens, apologies are appropriate.’
Backing her speech, fellow Democrat Francesca Hong tweeted: ‘Senator Johnson spoke passionately to defend the communities she represents.
‘Republicans who continuously weaponize and villainize the people of Milwaukee without accountability need to answer for constantly legislating racism.
‘These absurd times in state gov call for real talk.’
Recent crime stats for the city show that crime has dropped 14 percent overall compared to the same time last year.
Despite this, there has been small increases in the number of rape this year, up 3 percent on last as well as the amount of robberies taken place which has climbed 1 percent.
The largest increase in crime has been seen across human trafficking, which has soared 29 percent this year.
Managing editor at the Wisconsin Law Journal Steve Schuster believes that Johnson is not fit for office after her remarks.
Wisconsin senate speaker Robin Vos tweeted the Johnson should apologize for her remarks
Fellow Democrat Francesca Hong backed her comments and said that it was time for ‘real talk’
Wisconsin Sen. LaTonya Johnson and other Democratic state lawmakers call on Republicans who control the Legislature to permanently fund child care support grants on June 15 in Madison, Wisconsin
In an editorial comment, Schuster wrote: ‘State Sen. LaTonya Johnson is not fit for office and Wisconsin deserves someone who loves Wisconsin – all of Wisconsin – rural, urban and suburban.
‘Last night the Associated Press tweeted Sen. Johnson said, “F-ck the suburbs because they don’t know a goddam thing about life is in the city.”
‘What if a suburban senator said, “F-ck the city.” How would that play in Milwaukee?
‘Dialogues like this is not only counter-productive to the values of the senator’s constituents, but also is far out of alignment with the value of all Wisconsinites.
‘Hate for the suburbs or anyone or any place in Wisconsin has no home here. Resign Sen. LaTonya Johnson, Wisconsin doesn’t have the time for your hate and lack of civility.’
He also wrote that the suburbs in Milwaukee are on the front line of crime in the city due to crime spilling over into neighborhoods.
It follows a similar type of comment made by Hillary Clinton in the run up to the 2016 Presidential Election.
She described Trumps supporters as a ‘basket of deplorables’ before later backtracking on her comments.
DailyMail
