A Branson, Missouri woman caught on video screaming racist epithets and waving a Confederate flag at a Black Lives Matter protest, makes a public apology in a now-viral video.
The 35-second video of Kathy Jenkins surfaced on Monday. In it, Jenkins can be heard screaming to someone, “I will teach my grandkids to hate you all,” and then raising her fist and declaring her “KKK belief.”
Jenkins told KOLR that she was only there to watch the protest.
“I’ve never been to one,” she told KOLR. “I just wanted to see what the rally was all about.”
When the reporter asked her why she was waving a Confederate flag, Jenkins tells him that it was given to her, and she believed it was a symbol of unity.
She claims that it was the Black Lives Matter protesters who incited her to react.
“I hadn’t said anything until they came into my face…It’s like I blacked out. I don’t even remember saying half the stuff that I said.”
Jenkins says she's not a KKK member and only said those were her beliefs because the protesters called her a racist. "I was mocking them because I don’t like being called a racist,” she said.
Jenkins gave the station the following letter of apology:
As many of you know I am Kathy. I just wanted to start with saying that I am truly deeply sorry for what I said. This isn’t who I am as a person. I obviously cannot take back what I said. I can only learn from this. I want to make it clear. I am not teaching my children or grandchildren to hate anyone. No one. Ever. I’ve always taught them to respect and love anyone no matter the race. I’ve always taught them to treat people with the same respect as they would want to be treated. My words and actions have been a learning experience. Not only did I learn from this, but I hope this message helps others that they cannot take back what they have said. Again I am so so sorry because that is not who I am. I would never ever want to see anyone hurt and I don’t care who they are.” -KATHY JENKINS
One of the organizers of Branson’s Black Lives Matter protest reacted to Jenkins' letter by saying it's disingenuous and false.