Republican Sen. James Lankford, Okla., Wrote a letter on Thursday apologizing to black voters for not realizing how his efforts to challenge the election would be viewed.
In a letter addressed to ‘My Friends in North Tulsa’, the senator said he deeply regretted his “blindness” to how his election challenges could be seen by the Black community – as a ‘direct attack on their voting rights’.
Last month, Lankford announced he would take part in an effort led by Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Josh Hawley, R-Mo., To vote against the results of the Electoral College and request a ten-day audit to assess voter fraud. .
He backed out of contention after rioters stormed the Capitol last week.
HOT MIC CATCHES IMMEDIATE STAFF LANKFORD TELLS ‘PROTESTERS ARE BUILDING
“It was never my intention to deny any voter or state,” the senator wrote. “It was my intention to resolve any outstanding issues prior to the inauguration on January 20.”
“But my actions to ask for more electoral information caused a firestorm of suspicion among many of my friends, especially among black communities in the state,” he said, adding that he was ‘completely blinded’ by the reaction.
“What I did not realize was that the whole national conversation about states like Georgia, Pennsylvania and Michigan is seen as doubting the validity of votes coming from predominantly black communities like Atlanta, Philadelphia and Detroit,” he wrote.
“After decades of fighting for suffrage, many black friends in Oklahoma saw it as a direct attack on their right to vote, for their vote, and even as a belief that their vote made an election illegal in our country,” he said. he continued. .
Lankford notes the coming hundredth anniversary of the Tulsa race massacre, pointing to improvements since the tragedy, but notes that the opportunity and investment gaps are still there.
Between May 31 and June 1, 1921, crowds of armed White residents attacked Black Tulsans and their businesses in the Greenwood district, which at the time was the richest black community in the country. The death toll is not clear, but historians believe as many as 300 were killed.
LANKFORD INSTITTS LINGER QUESTIONS ABOUT 2020 ELECTION ‘MUST BE ANSWERED’
“There is also too little cultural understanding between people of different races in the Oklahoma communities, something I was just reminded of last week,” Lanford said.
Several black leaders in Tulsa have called for Lankford to be suspended or removed from the 1921 mass race committee in 1921 for his efforts to challenge the outcome of this week’s election. Lankford said at the time that after talking to black leaders, he would understand why his efforts could be viewed as a black voter right.
“I was shocked [when Black friends] told me, ‘It was to stop African Americans from voting.’ My comment to them was, ‘It never occurred to me. Why would I do that? Why would I think that? “He told Tulsa World.
“I now have some time to hang out with them and listen to them, and I understand where they come from,” Lankford said.
“Some people caught me saying, ‘Let me describe it to you like this’ – and they were right -‘ You hear the President say, Georgia, Michigan and Pennsylvania are problems. We hear the president say, Atlanta, Detroit and Philadelphia are problems. ‘
“And I said, ‘You’re exactly right. I hear what you’re saying now.'”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“I can assure you that my intention to give a voice to Oklahomans who had questions was also never intended to diminish the voice of any black American. I should have realized how many of you could interpret what I said. and what I did. “he concluded in his letter.” I deeply regret my blindness to the perception, and I am sorry about that. “