Christina Tuff also said Sullivan chose to apologize in a letter to the editor that was published in the Sunday Tulsa World because of previous letters the newspaper had published on his comments.
"He feels that his letter . . . speaks for itself," Tuff said. "He realizes the words chosen were inappropriate and decided to respond directly to those who had written letters to the editor that ran in the paper."
Sullivan's apology grew out of reactions to comments he made last month when he introduced a bill to make a memorial to the 1921 riot part of the National Park Service.
During an interview on the legislation, the congressman conceded that some people in Tulsa resist that plan.
"There are people that don't like this. I know, but I don't care. I think that certainly it is something we need to have," Sullivan said.
"If those people think that it is wrong to have a memorial to this, that's their problem. They are either bigots or they don't understand."
Tuff confirmed that it was the use of the word "bigot" and the letters generated by his use of it that triggered the apology.
"I apologize to those I may have offended in a Tulsa World story," Sullivan wrote in his letter to the editor. "The use of inflammatory language, unfortunately, has taken away from the purpose of my interview, which was to promote legislation honoring the victims of the 1921 Tulsa race riot."
He also encouraged those who disagree with his proposal to read the text of his legislation, examine the findings of the Tulsa Race Riot Commission and visit the memorial once it is completed.
"The 1921 Tulsa race riot was the greatest domestic disturbance since the Civil War," Sullivan wrote.
"By the time the violence had ended, an estimated 300 people were killed, and 35 to 40 square blocks of the Greenwood community were destroyed."
Sully, whatcha got to apologize for? They are BIGOTS, at best, IDIOTS, at WORST. I'd tell 'em to stick it where da sun don't SHINE. But, then, again, I'm NOT the one trYing to get into Maxine Horner's PANTS and SHAMELESSLY pander to North Tulsa.
'Cause in '10, Mommy gonna come after yer SEAT. And, guess who gonna roll her sign ALL over North Tulsa? Yep. SANTA IN DA HOUSE!!!!
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