Guatemalans angered by RI lawmakers remark

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — The state's Guatemalan community is expressing outrage over remarks by Rhode Island's House Minority Leader.

Republican Rep. Robert Watson referred to Guatemalans when he joked about the legislature's priorities during the Chamber of Commerce's annual lunch for lawmakers Wednesday.

Watson said its priorities were right "if you are a Guatemalan gay man who likes to gamble and smokes marijuana."

Immigration, gay marriage, gambling and medical marijuana are topics now being tackled by state lawmakers.

David Quiroa, president of the Guatemalan-American Alliance of Rhode Island, told The Providence Journal a news conference was planned and protests were possible.

Quiroa said he doesn't think Watson meant to insult Guatemalans, but he did.

Watson told WPRO the remarks were not insulting and made the point that the state should be paying more attention to its dire fiscal situation.

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Information from: The Providence Journal, http://www.projo.com/