Maine mayor to Somalis: Leave culture at door

(PORTLAND PRESS HERALD) LEWISTON – With critics calling for his resignation, Lewiston Mayor Robert MacDonald spoke Tuesday to clarify comments that some felt disparaged immigrants, but he stopped short of apologizing.

Speaking in a packed City Council chamber before Tuesday night’s council meeting, MacDonald said his comments to a BBC reporter that went public last week were taken out of context.

In an interview with the reporter, MacDonald said: “You (immigrants) come here, you come and you accept our culture and you leave your culture at the door.”