Hispanic group denounces Rep.'s charge

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- A leading U.S. Hispanic civil rights group has denounced Rep. Corrine Brown, D-Fla., for her statement that white men "all look alike to me."

"We find it disturbing that a fellow minority in a leadership position would make a statement like this," said Brent Wilkes, executive director of the League of United Latin American Citizens. "It is not acceptable, no matter what the conditions are, to make a statement like this, regardless of political background, it is offensive, period."

Brown's outburst occurred Thursday during a closed-door meeting on Capitol Hill of administration officials and members of Congress. Brown said President George Bush's approach to the crisis in Haiti was "racist," the Washington Times reported.

She said she resented the administration sending "a bunch of white men" as representatives to the congressional meeting -- which surprised Assistant Secretary of State Roger Noriega, a man of Mexican ancestry.

Brown's office sent a personal letter of apology to Noriega shortly after her outburst.