A Michigan state senator apologized Saturday for wearing a face mask that resembled the Confederate flag during a vote at the state capitol.
State Sen. Dale Zorn (R) had previously denied that the pattern on his mask was the flag but admitted Saturday he made an “error in judgement.”
“I’m sorry for my choice of pattern on the face mask I wore yesterday on the Senate floor. I did not intend to offend anyone; however, I realize that I did, and for that I am sorry. Those who know me best know that I do not support the things this pattern represents,” he tweeted.
“My actions were an error in judgment for which there are no excuses and I will learn from this episode.”
2/2:
My actions were an error in judgment for which there are no excuses and I will learn from this episode.
— Dale W. Zorn (@DaleZornSenate) April 25, 2020
Zorn told local media Friday that he thought the mask would probably “raise some eyebrows.”
“It was not a Confederate flag,” he said. “I think even if it was a Confederate flag, you know, we should be talking about teaching our national history in schools. And that’s part of our national history, and it’s something we can’t just throw away because it is part of our history. And if we want to make sure that the atrocities that happened during that time doesn’t happen again, we should be teaching it. Our kids should know what that flag stands for.”
However, when asked by a local reporter what the flag stands for, Zorn replied, “the Confederacy.”
