Four days after receiving a barrage of criticism on Twitter for a thread about racism in London, Paul Paolatto has offered an apology.
In the wake of a man being charged with four counts of first degree murder after a Muslim family was run over by a driver on Hyde Park Road, Paolatto, who is the London West Progressive Conservative candidate for next year's provincial election, said he "took exception to anyone who, in response to this heinous act of terror, characterizes the entire city of #LdnOnt, my city, as a racist city.
https://twitter.com/PPaolatto/status/1402733594670415875
Later, in the same string of tweets, he said "to infer that this act is representative of something more, and worse yet, somehow reflective of the people who live here, is both callous and offensive."
The tweets received hundreds of responses from people in London and elsewhere, criticizing Paolatto for making the remarks so soon after an attack that police have said was racially motivated and may lead to terrorism charges.
https://twitter.com/JHMustapha/status/1403019906166181893
On Sunday evening, Paolatto issued an apology for the thread, pledging to meet anyone who disagreed with his comments.
https://twitter.com/PPaolatto/status/1404196786147835908
Paolatto will be running against New Democrat incumbent Peggy Sattler in next year's provincial election.
He finished second in London's mayoral race in 2018, being defeated by Ed Holder on the final ballot.
