Sen. Golden’s ‘ghetto drug’ comments spark protest

<p>About a dozen activists rallied in Bay Ridge Monday to condemn what they argue are racist remarks from state Sen. Marty Golden.&nbsp;</p>

News 12 Staff

Jan 29, 2018, 9:35 PM

Updated 2,272 days ago

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About a dozen activists rallied in Bay Ridge Monday to condemn what they argue are racist remarks from state Sen. Marty Golden.
The senator was addressing the opioid epidemic when he described heroin as "not a ghetto drug," according to an interview published in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle last week.
"It's happening to doctors' kids," he continued.
Golden's assessment sparked outrage among voters and other elected officials, many of whom have publicly denounced his comments.
The protesters say they want him to give up his seat on the state Senate's task force for heroin and opioid addiction.
A spokesperson for Golden also says he will not give up his seat on the task force, and added, "As we enter into an election cycle, uninformed criticism of Sen. Golden's efforts to fight against heroin and opioid abuse ... is to be expected."
"While my words were not articulated clearly or properly, the point I was trying to make was that this crisis is affecting virtually every community throughout New York state," he said.
Dionna King, a member of the Drug Policy Alliance, says she believes Golden's views are toxic.
"When you have a lawmaker that has racial bias, that harbors racist racism towards particular demographics, that's really harmful," she says.


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