Two Democratic state lawmakers were criticized Tuesday after they were photographed standing behind a banner at a protest in Albany that equated climate change with the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
The controversy over the imagery of the banner — showing a passenger airplane labeled "climate change" flying toward the Twin Towers — comes as state officials and climate advocates are calling for stepped up efforts to curtail the impact of extreme weather-related disasters in New York by shifting to renewable fuels.
The lawmakers who appeared in the photo taken by Politico reporter Marie French at the rally, Sens. Rachel May and Robert Jackson, reputed the sign's message and apologized.
"The imagery on the banner is unacceptable and I would never endorse such a cynical use of our state’s history to score cheap points," May said. "I apologize sincerely to all New Yorkers and call upon the organizers to similarly condemn this message."
Jackson, who was seen holding one part of the banner, and was videotaped at one point reading from it. He also apologized and insisted he did not agree with the sign's message.
"I did not note the details of the artwork and would never support anything that denigrates the memory of all who were impacted by 9/11," said Jackson, who added the terrorist attacks cannot be used to score political points. "The artwork depicted is wrong and I fully reject it."
And organizers of the rally at the Capitol, which included a sit-in at entrances of the Capitol building in protest to what demonstrators said was a lack of action on the issue, also distanced themselves from the banner.
"New York Renews did not invite or sanction this banner and we condemn the use of this imagery," said the group New York Renews. "We apologize to all New Yorkers."
The rally's organizers added the hodler was asked to leave the event when they became aware of the banner.
"It is completely unacceptable and has no place in NY Renews," the group said.
Still, Republican lawmakers, as well as GOP candidate for governor Lee Zeldin, blasted the lawmakers for appearing with the sign.
"This sick," Zeldin wrote on Twitter, adding, "There's NO comparison."
Republicans in the state Senate also knocked the banner, saying it undermined the message climate advocates were trying to deliver.
Sen. Alexis Weik called the banner "disgusting."
"It's very, very disappointing when this passes for political discourse or passes for scoring political points," Senate Minority Leader Ortt said. "How many times have we been in a 9/11 ceremony and say 'never forget.' Today, we had two senators who forgot."