Minnesota legislator criticized for NBA tweet

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- A Minnesota legislator's tweet about the NBA has prompted hundreds of responses, with many on social media calling it racist.

State Rep. Pat Garofalo sent a tweet Sunday that read: ''Let's be honest, 70% of teams in NBA could fold tomorrow + nobody would notice a difference w/ possible exception of increase in streetcrime.''

The Star Tribune reports that when asked about the tweet, the Farmington Republican said he was ''talking about NBA's high arrest rate and that they are the only major pro league that testing positive for marijuana is not a substance abuse violation.''

Garofalo added: ''No intent beyond that.''

Within two hours of his tweet, more than 600 people retweeted it and hundreds more responded. Many called the comment he made in the tweet racist.

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