Mississippi lawmaker 'sorry' he urged lynching for statue removal(Reuters) - A Mississippi state lawmaker who called for the lynching of Louisiana officials for removing pro-slavery era monuments apologized on Monday after his comments sparked a firestorm of criticism. Republican Representative Karl Oliver had taken to Facebook on Saturday to criticize the removal of monuments in New Orleans that city leaders deemed racially offensive. The last of the four statues, of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, was taken down on Friday. The Confederacy was made up of states that attempted to preserve slavery in the South and secede from the United States in the Civil War of 1861 to 1865. Oliver, a first-term lawmaker, said the monuments had been erected in the “memory of our family and fellow Southern Americans” and compared those taking them down them to Nazis. If those behind the removals want to “burn books or destroy historical monuments of OUR HISTORY, they should be LYNCHED!” Oliver wrote in a Facebook post, which has since been removed. Oliver, a funeral home director from Winona, said on Monday that he had embarrassed fellow legislators and the state and that his choice of words was inappropriate. “In an effort to express my passion for preserving all historical monuments, I acknowledge the word ‘lynched’ was wrong. I am very sorry,” he said in an emailed statement. Oliver did not respond to requests for an interview. Removal of the monuments provoked clashes between opponents and supporters, and workers wore body armor and face coverings to shield their identities.  Both Republicans and Democrats in Mississippi issued statements condemning Oliver, with Republican Governor Phil Bryant saying his “language is unacceptable and has no place in civil discourse.” The state Democratic Party called it “inflammatory.” House of Representatives Speaker Philip Gunn had called on Oliver to apologize, saying his views did not reflect those of the Republican Party or the House and its leadership. Gunn has supported removal of the Confederate battle emblem from the Mississippi state flag, but has said he cannot get enough support from the Republican House lawmakers. politicsNews
mississippi lawmaker urged lynching statue removal reuters a mississippi state lawmaker called lynching louisiana officials removing era monuments apologized monday comments sparked firestorm criticism republican representative karl oliver taken facebook saturday criticize removal monuments new orleans city leaders deemed racially offensive the last four statues confederate general robert lee taken friday the confederacy made states attempted preserve slavery south secede united states civil war oliver lawmaker said monuments erected memory family fellow southern americans compared taking nazis if behind removals want burn books destroy historical monuments our history lynched oliver wrote facebook post since removed oliver funeral home director wanna said monday embarrassed fellow legislators state choice words inappropriate in effort express passion preserving historical monuments i acknowledge word lynched wrong i sorry said emailed statement oliver respond requests interview removal monuments provoked clashes opponents supporters workers wore body armor face covering shield identities both republicans democrats mississippi issued statements condemning oliver republican governor phil bryant saying language unacceptable place civil the state democratic party called house representatives speaker philip gunn called oliver apologize saying views reflect republican party house leadership gunn supported removal confederate battle emblem mississippi state flag said get enough support republican house lawmakers politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Mississippi lawmaker 'sorry' he urged lynching for statue removal(Reuters) - A Mississippi state lawmaker who called for the lynching of Louisiana officials for removing pro-slavery era monuments apologized on Monday after his comments sparked a firestorm of criticism. Republican Representative Karl Oliver had taken to Facebook on Saturday to criticize the removal of monuments in New Orleans that city leaders deemed racially offensive. The last of the four statues, of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, was taken down on Friday. The Confederacy was made up of states that attempted to preserve slavery in the South and secede from the United States in the Civil War of 1861 to 1865. Oliver, a first-term lawmaker, said the monuments had been erected in the “memory of our family and fellow Southern Americans” and compared those taking them down them to Nazis. If those behind the removals want to “burn books or destroy historical monuments of OUR HISTORY, they should be LYNCHED!” Oliver wrote in a Facebook post, which has since been removed. Oliver, a funeral home director from Winona, said on Monday that he had embarrassed fellow legislators and the state and that his choice of words was inappropriate. “In an effort to express my passion for preserving all historical monuments, I acknowledge the word ‘lynched’ was wrong. I am very sorry,” he said in an emailed statement. Oliver did not respond to requests for an interview. Removal of the monuments provoked clashes between opponents and supporters, and workers wore body armor and face coverings to shield their identities.  Both Republicans and Democrats in Mississippi issued statements condemning Oliver, with Republican Governor Phil Bryant saying his “language is unacceptable and has no place in civil discourse.” The state Democratic Party called it “inflammatory.” House of Representatives Speaker Philip Gunn had called on Oliver to apologize, saying his views did not reflect those of the Republican Party or the House and its leadership. Gunn has supported removal of the Confederate battle emblem from the Mississippi state flag, but has said he cannot get enough support from the Republican House lawmakers. politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: mississippi lawmaker urged lynching statue removal reuters a mississippi state lawmaker called lynching louisiana officials removing era monuments apologized monday comments sparked firestorm criticism republican representative karl oliver taken facebook saturday criticize removal monuments new orleans city leaders deemed racially offensive the last four statues confederate general robert lee taken friday the confederacy made states attempted preserve slavery south secede united states civil war oliver lawmaker said monuments erected memory family fellow southern americans compared taking nazis if behind removals want burn books destroy historical monuments our history lynched oliver wrote facebook post since removed oliver funeral home director wanna said monday embarrassed fellow legislators state choice words inappropriate in effort express passion preserving historical monuments i acknowledge word lynched wrong i sorry said emailed statement oliver respond requests interview removal monuments provoked clashes opponents supporters workers wore body armor face covering shield identities both republicans democrats mississippi issued statements condemning oliver republican governor phil bryant saying language unacceptable place civil the state democratic party called house representatives speaker philip gunn called oliver apologize saying views reflect republican party house leadership gunn supported removal confederate battle emblem mississippi state flag said get enough support republican house lawmakers politicsnews