Wash Heights Pol Says He Didn't See 9/11 Banner He Posed With

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY — A Washington Heights state senator says he never saw the controversial banner he posed with earlier this week — which depicted climate change as a hijacked airplane headed toward the twin towers — but video suggests this may be less than accurate.

State Sen. Robert Jackson apologized Tuesday for holding up a banner at an Albany rally earlier in the day and said he did not notice the imagery that spurred outrage among New Yorkers.

"The artwork depicted is wrong and I fully reject it," Jackson tweeted. "I did not note the details of the artwork and would never support anything that denigrates the memory of all those who were impacted by 9/11."

But soon after Jackson's issued his response to criticism, Fox 5 reporter Morgan McKay shared video of the uptown senator pointing to the sign and reading it out loud.

"Wake up America," Jackson says as he walks toward the sign and reads the message written on it.

Senator Robert Jackson - who is on the left holding the sign comparing climate change to 9/11 - says he also "did not note the details of the artwork" before posing with the sign https://t.co/V53EPC6LoU pic.twitter.com/aWeZEnsW2a
— Morgan McKay (@morganfmckay) March 8, 2022

Those who responded to the apology expressed skepticism of Jackson's explanation that the banner was one he hadn't seen.

"There’s a video of you pointing at the picture," replied @AlBeachGuy. "Do you guys ever tell the truth? Ever?"

"Nice try Senator," added @kenkneis. "You knew exactly what was on the banner and read it aloud."

In his apology, Jackson's stood firm on his belief that climate change presents a serious risk to the city, the state and the nation.

"There are two truths here," Jackson wrote. "Climate justice is not a political agenda and 9/11 can never be used for political points."

State Sen. Rachel May, of Syracuse, also issued an apology and said she hadn't seen its content either.

Jackson hinted that he and May were targets of a "political ploy" by state Sen. Rob Ortt, the Republican Senate leader, who accused the two of using "a horrific attack on our nation to advance their political agenda."

Jackson concluded his response by mentioning his work as the chair of Civil Services and Pensions, where he worked with widows of 9/11 to ensure they got proper benefits.

Both Democratic state Senators Robert Jackson and Rachel May have apologized and said they did not see the content on the climate change-9/11 banner, but a video provided by a source shows @SenatorRJackson pointing at the sign and referring to the words displayed: https://t.co/5QNXxaXg6L pic.twitter.com/QteTMLbVE6
— Bernadette Hogan (@bern_hogan) March 8, 2022