In this May 3, 2013 photo, Minnesota Republican Rep. Pat Garofalo is shown at the State Capitol in St. Paul, Minn. Garofalo sent a tweet Sunday, March 9, 2014 that read: "Let's be honest, 70% of teams in NBA could fold tomorrow + nobody would notice a difference w/ possible exception of increase in streetcrime." Within two hours of his tweet, more than 600 people retweeted it , with many on social media calling it racist. (AP Photo/Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Glen Stubbe) (The Associated Press)
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota legislator whose NBA-related tweet aroused cries of racism this weekend isn't backing down.
Five-term Republican Rep. Pat Garofalo has faced an avalanche of criticism for suggesting there would be more street crime if teams in the professional basketball league folded. About three-fourths of the NBA's players are black.
Garofalo sought to clarify the remark Monday in a text message to The Associated Press. He says he meant to convey that pro sports leagues have a problem with athletes obeying the law and that his tweet transcended race.
He declined to be interviewed further.
Garofalo represents a district south of the Twin Cities and is seeking a sixth term in the fall.
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