Black and Latino Groups Scold Rogers : Legislature: Caucuses criticize the state senator for appearing before an organization accused of promoting white supremacy.

Taking the unusual step of reprimanding a fellow lawmaker, the legislative black and Latino caucuses scolded state Sen. Don Rogers on Wednesday for his appearance last weekend before a group accused of promoting white supremacy.

In a strongly worded missive, the Black Caucus told Rogers its members were “distressed and saddened “ and “at a loss to understand your rationale for joining such loathsome company.”

Rogers, who says he does not hold racist beliefs, declined to comment on the caucuses’ letters.

Rogers spoke Saturday to the annual Jubilation Celebration and Conference in Bakersfield, joining a lineup of speakers that included one of the founders of the white racist Aryan Nation. It was Rogers’ second appearance before the group in two years.

The longtime Republican legislator from Kern County, whose district reaches into the Antelope and Santa Clarita valleys, also wrote an article published in the latest issue of the conference’s sponsoring publication, The Jubilee.

Anti-racist watchdog groups contend the newspaper is the voice of the national Christian Identity movement, a theology built on the belief that Christian whites are superior to other races or ethnic groups.

In his speech before the Jubilee followers, Rogers spoke of reaffirming states’ rights over federal mandates, a popular topic with conservative audiences. His article in the Jubilee attacked the federal Endangered Species Act as too costly.

But even though Rogers did not speak or write in support of Jubilee racial views, Black Caucus members were alarmed that, as a state senator, he appeared before the gathering at all.

“Surely you were aware that your hosts and fellow speakers are in the business of promoting race hatred, homophobia and anti-Semitism,” the letter said, noting that Colorado state Rep. Charles Duke pulled out of his scheduled talk that night, saying he had not realized what views the group espoused.

Pamphlets on sale at the conference attacked gays, Jews and people of color. The event also featured talks by Robert Brock, an African American who urges all blacks to “repatriate” to Africa, and Louis Beam Jr., a former Ku Klux Klansman who is an Aryan Nation founder.

A letter signed by nine members of the Latino Legislative Caucus chided Rogers for both his decision to speak to the group and his “apparent unwillingness to concede that such behavior was improper.”

Under the letterhead of Assemblyman Richard G. Polanco (D-Los Angeles), the letter said, “In the continuing struggle we endure to promote civil rights, we realize how much further we have to go when elected officials ignore the lessons of history and serve the purposed of those who peddle hatred.”

Also signing the letter were Assembly members Grace Napolitano (D-Norwalk), Joe Baca (D-San Bernardino), Louis Caldera (D-Los Angeles), Hilda Solis (D-El Monte), Martha Escutia (D-Huntington Park), Cruz Bustamante (D-Fresno), Denise Moreno Ducheny (D-San Diego) and Diane Martinez (D-Rosemead).

Assemblywoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland), who heads the nine-member Black Caucus, said it was rare for the lawmakers to draft a letter objecting to another legislator’s behavior.

Signing the letter were Assembly members Lee, Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco), Willard H. Murray Jr. (D-Paramount), Gwen Moore (D-Los Angeles), Juanita M. McDonald (D-Carson), Curtis Tucker Jr. (D-Inglewood) and Marguerite Archie-Hudson (D-Los Angeles). Senators Diane Watson (D-Los Angeles) and Teresa Hughes (D-Inglewood) also signed the letter.

On Tuesday, the Assembly had stripped Rogers’ name off one of his own bills in a retaliatory maneuver designed to demonstrate unhappiness with his weekend appearance. Rogers blamed the action on “disgruntled Democrats.”

On Wednesday, the black caucus wrote: “Senator, we are not merely disgruntled. Race hatred and its variants are not trifling matters; nor does your legitimate concern for states’ rights . . . outweigh the public need to repudiate racist nonsense in the strongest possible terms.”