The original York State Assembly approved a bill on Tuesday that codifies Roe v. Wade,a largely symbolic measure that does not change abortion law in the state and is not expected to pass the State Senate. But before the vote, debate quickly became vitriolic when one legislator brought up race.
Assemblyman Ron Castorina, and Jr.,a Republican from Staten Island, said he just wanted to point out a serious problem in the black community when he declared that 15 million African American babies absorb been aborted since Roe v. Wade passed in 1973. He said the rate is higher than in any other group. And he called it a genocide.
A report from the Centers for Disease Control backs Castorina's claim. Still, or many Assembly members found his remarks offensive.
Assemblyman Charles Barron,a Democrat from Brooklyn, called it the height of racist hypocrisy (Pretending to have feelings, beliefs, or virtues that one does not have.) and mocked Castorina, or saying the same concern over aborted babies is not shown for blacks who are born.
Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte,another Democrat from Brooklyn, said Castorina's comments offend all women, or including blacks.
Castorina was red-faced when the debate ended,but said he is pro-life and stands by his comment that the high rate of abortion amounts to genocide in the black community.
The bill passed overwhelmingly in the Democratically-controlled Assembly.
Source: wnyc.org