Hempstead assemblywoman again under fire for comments made at church

<p>Weeks after comparing her party's chairman to a plantation owner and her primary opponent a slave, Hempstead Assemblywoman Earlene Hooper was caught on camera making remarks that some consider to be racist.</p>

News 12 Staff

Aug 18, 2018, 9:52 PM

Updated 2,169 days ago

Share:

Weeks after comparing her party's chairman to a plantation owner and her primary opponent a slave, Hempstead Assemblywoman Earlene Hooper was caught on camera making remarks that some consider to be racist.
Hooper, who is the deputy speaker of the New York State Assembly, was seen on video obtained by News 12 speaking earlier this week at Calvary Tabernacle Church in Hempstead.
She told the largely African American church "we are the strongest race of people on the face of this earth."
The speech comes on the heels of comments Hooper made last month where she compared Nassau County Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs to a plantation owner and primary opponent Taylor Raynor to a slave.
During the speech, Hooper also attempted to clarify her past controversial comments, saying "I had no intention of uttering that name, so obviously, something spiritual told me to say that name. And that name was Jay Jacobs."
In response to the new comments, Jacobs says "Earlene Hooper has, through her own words and actions, demonstrated that she is no longer fit to serve in elected office.  Racism and corrupt behavior can have no refuge in any party, least of all the Democratic Party." 
Meanwhile Raynor, who is also an African-American woman, says Hooper's "us versus them" comments are an attempt to distract from her own record.
Hooper told the audience that she secured $1 million in fund and two crossing guards to help the Hempstead School District after a fire at an elementary school last week.
The district confirmed that it is set to receive those funds from the state.


More from News 12
2:05
Zillow report: 28 LI communities have million-dollar starter homes

Zillow report: 28 LI communities have million-dollar starter homes

1:14
Wonderful weekend ahead with shower chances early next week

Wonderful weekend ahead with shower chances early next week

0:25
Police: 5 officers injured while arresting man in West Hempstead

Police: 5 officers injured while arresting man in West Hempstead

1:22
Justin Timberlake to be arraigned again for DWI next week

Justin Timberlake to be arraigned again for DWI next week

2:01
Bay Shore Christian School parents left without answers as school owners move to shut down programs

Bay Shore Christian School parents left without answers as school owners move to shut down programs

2:04
Another huge turnout at the Feast of St. Rocco in Glen Cove

Another huge turnout at the Feast of St. Rocco in Glen Cove

1:58
LI program gets kids & parents ready to start school

LI program gets kids & parents ready to start school

1:28
Local Summer Olympics watch party happening in Copiague

Local Summer Olympics watch party happening in Copiague

2:02
Brooklyn man facing assault charges, accused of driving into pedestrians outside Eastern Suffolk BOCES

Brooklyn man facing assault charges, accused of driving into pedestrians outside Eastern Suffolk BOCES

0:18
Sen. Schumer announces $24 million in federal funding to revitalize downtown Riverhead

Sen. Schumer announces $24 million in federal funding to revitalize downtown Riverhead

0:36
Ceremony honors 24 students at NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine

Ceremony honors 24 students at NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine

1:44
The Real Deal: How to save on expenses amid rising costs in New York

The Real Deal: How to save on expenses amid rising costs in New York

0:33
State report: Long Island has lowest percentage of bridges in poor condition

State report: Long Island has lowest percentage of bridges in poor condition

1:40
Food Truck Friday: The Cone Depot

Food Truck Friday: The Cone Depot

0:20
Suffolk police officers help woman deliver baby in Amityville

Suffolk police officers help woman deliver baby in Amityville

3:44
Deer Park teen blacklisted by bank after falling for a fake check scam

Deer Park teen blacklisted by bank after falling for a fake check scam

1:18
Farm owner: 2 goats, 3 sheep dead after toxic bushes were thrown into pen on East End

Farm owner: 2 goats, 3 sheep dead after toxic bushes were thrown into pen on East End

1:59
Police: Scammers falsely reporting damage on people's properties before damaging it further

Police: Scammers falsely reporting damage on people's properties before damaging it further

1:46
'It’s just treacherous.' Calls for change grow along busy Nassau road amid multiple crashes

'It’s just treacherous.' Calls for change grow along busy Nassau road amid multiple crashes

1:41
Teens learn skills needed to become firefighters at Camp Fahrenheit 516

Teens learn skills needed to become firefighters at Camp Fahrenheit 516