Black, Latino Caucuses Chide Senator for Addressing White Supremacy Group

SACRAMENTO —  Taking the unusual step of reprimanding a fellow lawmaker, the Legislature’s Black and Latino caucuses scolded state Sen. Don Rogers in separate letters Wednesday for his appearance last weekend before a group that promotes white supremacy.

Rogers was informed by a “distressed and saddened” Black Caucus that its nine members are “at a loss to understand your rationale for joining such loathsome company.”

A letter from nine members of the Latino Legislative Caucus chided Rogers for his decision to speak to the group and “apparent unwillingness to concede that such behavior was improper.”

Rogers on Saturday joined a lineup of speakers that included an Aryan Nations founder at the annual Jubilation Celebration and Conference in Bakersfield. It was his second appearance before the group in two years.

The longtime Republican legislator from Tehachapi, whose district reaches into the Antelope and Santa Clarita valleys, also wrote an article in the latest issue of the conference’s sponsoring publication, the Jubilee.

The newspaper has been identified by watchdog groups as the voice for the national Christian Identity movement, which espouses a theology built on the belief that whites are superior to other races.

Rogers has said he does not share racist beliefs. He refused Wednesday to comment on the caucuses’ letters.

In his speech before the Jubilee audience, Rogers spoke of reaffirming states’ rights over federal mandates, a popular topic with conservative audiences. His article in the Jubilee publication attacked the federal Endangered Species Act as too costly.

Even though Rogers did not speak or write in support of Jubilee views, caucus members were alarmed that, as a state senator, he appeared before the gathering at all.

“Surely you were aware that your hosts and fellow speakers are in the business of promoting race hatred, homophobia and anti-Semitism,” the Black Caucus letter said.

Assemblywoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland), who heads the Black Caucus, consisting of seven Assembly members and two senators, said it was rare for the lawmakers to draft a letter objecting to another legislator’s behavior.