Bucks president offers written statement saying, "Every city faces challenges, and Milwaukee is no exception"
MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee Bucks President Peter Feigin provided FOX6 News a written statement regarding comments he made that Milwaukee is the most segregated and racist city he's ever experienced in his life.
Feigin delivered the remarks September 21st before the Rotary Club of Madison. The quote, first reported by the Wisconsin State Journal is as follows:
"Very bluntly, Milwaukee is the most segregated, racist place I've ever experienced in my life. It's just a place that is antiquated. It is in desperate need of repair, and has happened for a long, long time."
Feigin's written statement to FOX6 News said the following:
"Milwaukee is a terrific community with wonderful people and I am proud to be a part of it.
I was addressing a question about the social, economic and geographic divides that exist and how we can help address them. It wasn't my intention to characterize the general community as overtly racist.
Every city faces challenges, and Milwaukee is no exception. We are actively engaged in this community and are committed to working with leadership to help bridge divides. I'm proud to call this city home and personally play a role in building an even better Milwaukee for future generations."
Feigin also called into the Mark Belling Show on News/Talk 1130 WISN radio to clarify that his intention wasn't to generalize the entire city.
"It wasn't my intention to categorize the entire community as overtly racist. You know, I regret the fact that I made a gross generalization that affected the entire community because that's not the way I feel. This has a silver lining in, again, it's created immense awareness and that helps us to the next step of creating solutions," Feigin said.
FOX6 News spoke with Bucks co-owner Wes Edens on Tuesday, September 27th as the team opened training camp at the Kohl Center in Madison. Edens said Feigin could've used a better choice of words, but said the problems Feigin describes in his remarks are real, and he thinks the Bucks may be able to help.