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Don Harris, president of the Maricopa County chapter of the NAACP.
ABC 15
It was supposed to be discussion about racial sensitivity during a meeting with members of the community after a group of Phoenix, Ari. high school students used their t-shirts to spell out the N-word. Shortly after the meeting let out last week, 77-year-old attorney and civil rights leader Don Harris, who is white and also the president of the Maricopa County chapter of the NAACP, stole the show after he was heard commenting about a reporter’s breast, the Huffington Post reports.
“Nice tits,” he said to a male report for the Phoenix New Times most like referring to KPNX reporter Monique Griego who was standing near the two. When asked about the comment, which, was captured on audio and posted online, Harris told the New Times, “I apologize if anyone was offended. I could have said nothing…I’m really f—king sorry.”
Harris who calls himself “one of the best goddamned people in the state,” noted that he was going to “slash” his “wrists” when asked if he would now be championing sexist issues alongside racist ones.
“Better yet,” he told the New Times, “I’m going to throw myself out of a f–king window, except I’m on the first floor.”
Harris who is known “brash, politically incorrect comments,” according to the newspaper continued his awkward apology tour telling ABC 15, that, “It was a guy talking to another guy,” Harris said. “That still doesn’t make it acceptable.”
Harris who came into the position as NAACP chapter president on a whim added that he has offered to resign from the post if the executive board sees fit.
“I said if they want me gone, I’m gone,” Harris told the newspaper. “I’m not ducking from anything. I did something stupid and wrong and I’m sorry for it. I can’t beat myself forever about it. I said it. And I can’t be any more sincere.”
According to HuffPo, Harris, came to be the NAACP Maricopa County chapter president in 2014 after no one applied to run. Harris, who was on the executive board, figured submitting his name would surely draw out interested candidates. No stepped up to run against him and he was elected president.
KPNX noted that news anchor Monique Griego would not be commenting on the story.
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