HAVRE de GRACE, MD — A state delegate from Havre de Grace was removed from a leadership position Tuesday in the Maryland General Assembly for using a racial slur, according to media reports. Delegate Mary Ann Lisanti, a Democrat from Havre de Grace, apologized to fellow lawmakers and the public on Tuesday for using the N-word to refer to a majority-African American part of the state.
Lisanti said in a statement that “I am sickened that a word that is not in my vocabulary came out of my mouth. It does not represent my belief system, my life’s work or what is my heart.”
Lisanti told another white lawmaker last month at an Annapolis cigar bar that when he campaigned in Prince George’s last fall he was door-knocking in a “n—– district,” Del. Jay Walker, who witnessed the comment, told The Washington Post.
House Speaker Mike Busch said that Lisanti apologized Tuesday to the House Democratic Caucus for her use of the n-word. He removed her as chairwoman of the Unemployment Insurance Subcommittee.
“While I believe her apology was heartfelt, the damage among her colleagues and the public has been done,” Busch said in a statement. “I … expressed my extreme disappointment and concern over her irresponsible and hurtful actions. … I believe that leaders in the House need to be able to bring people together- not tear them apart.”
Fellow Democrat Cheryl Glenn, a delegate from Baltimore City and former leader of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, told the Post Lisanti “never quite admitted to what she did. . . As long as you live, you are going to make a mistake, but you have to own it. And so this is more than a mistake, this shows racial intolerance.”
Lisanti will also undergo sensitivity training.
Here is Delegate Mary Ann Lisanti’s full statement:
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I deeply apologize to the citizens of my district, people of Maryland, all of my colleagues in the Maryland General Assembly and everyone reading this for my word choice several weeks ago. I am sickened that a word that is not in my vocabulary came out of my mouth. It does not represent my belief system, my life’s work or what is my heart.
Last evening I met with the Legislative Black Caucus to express my deepest regret for the pain I have caused my colleagues in the General Assembly and repent. This morning, I expressed the same to the entire Democratic Caucus.
Earlier today, I met with House Speaker Busch and agreed to step down from my leadership position. I also agreed to participate in sensitivity training. I understand that the use of inappropriate and insensitive language is not acceptable under any circumstance. I am sorry for the hurt I have caused and will do everything I can to help heal that pain and regain the trust of my colleagues and constituents. I pray for forgiveness.
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