"I Am Not a House Slave Nor a House N*****," Says State Rep. Williams After Heated Debate

"I Am Not a House Slave Nor a House N*****," Says State Rep. Williams After Heated Debate

A heated floor debate on legislation to increase the minimum wage in Rhode Island by $1 dollar turned into an explosive controversy on Thursday at the Rhode Island State House.

The debate was dominated by two Providence State Representatives -- Marcia Ranglin-Vassell, and the floor manager of the legislation, Labor Committee Chair Anastasia Williams.

Ranglin-Vassell repeatedly called for a greater increase in the minimum wage, a debate that aggravated Williams.

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After the vote, Williams took to the floor and said she was no one's "house slave" and much more.

"I would like to make an announcement for everyone please," said Williams. "I had a DNA test — and yes I am 100% [that] multicultural dish."

Williams then went on the attack.

"But what I’m not is a house slave nor a house n*****," said Williams. "And I say it, clearly, because someone who I respect had the audacity, while they have the right to call whomever they want what they want, I know who I am and who’s I am. And that being a house slave, I’m not."

"I am the child of Ben and Rose. And I am proud of who I am. So make no mistake about who I am, at all today or any day that I am alive," said Williams. "I am not, I repeat, a house slave, or a house ni*****. Just because I stood up here and spoke my mind and represented what we had before us that came out of [the House] labor committee. I don’t hide and I do not sugar coat my words. I don’t have to, nor do I have to keep anyone from making the statement they choose."

"That DNA test, I’m proud of and it’s real — but you better believe that will be the last time that individual or anybody that feels courageous enough to call me out of the proper name that I have," said Williams. "That will be the last time."

Mattiello Responds

After Williams' speech, Speaker of the House Nick Mattiello tried to calm the chamber.

"I am very sorry for the incident that you speak of," said Mattiello, following WIlliams' floor remarks. "I want to point out house rule 10B — this is Chairman McNamara's favorite rule. No member is permitted to attack another member of the House personally nor to make to false statements about or question the integrity of another member."

"Sometimes we get passionate on the floor, sometimes we disagree, sometimes we strongly disagree and that’s all good," said Mattiello. "Differences of opinion make us stronger."

"But you can’t violate rule 10B -- not one of us can insist that we are right and someone else is wrong," said Mattiello. "This is a house of debate this is a house where we respect our colleagues and different opinions."

"I apologize to you even though I was nowhere near the incident where it occurred," said Mattiello to Williams. "Whoever did that — I respect your courtesy — but you should apologize."

Neither Ranglin-Vassell or Williams returned phone calls.

This story was first published 2/13/20 9:13 PM