DETROIT — Last night, state Rep. Bettie Cook Scott (D-Detroit) issued an apology for offensive and inappropriate comments made to state Rep. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit) and her volunteers last week. In response, Rep. Chang issued the following statement:

“Hate has no place in our state, and especially not from those elected to serve the public. I understand Rep. Scott has recognized that her comments were uncalled for and inappropriate. This is not about me — it is about the impact of xenophobia and bigotry on Asian American and immigrant communities. I appreciate Rep Scott's offer to sit down and discuss these problematic comments in person, and will meet with her next week with representatives I have invited from the Asian American and immigrant community. I hope this meeting will be an educational opportunity that will help Rep. Scott better understand the values of tolerance and acceptance within our communities, the contributions made to the fabric of our nation and our state by immigrants and children of immigrants like me, and the impact that offensive comments like hers can have on community members.”

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