Willie Wilson responds to reports he used racially-charged word in speech

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Candidate for mayor Willie Wilson responded to reports he used a racially-charged word during a speech at a River North restaurant hours before Thursday night's debate.

The Chicago Sun-Times first reported he referred to "whiteys" in the audience. ABC7 was at that speech.

"To the whiteys here, I'm gonna let you know, I ain't prejudice, alright," Wilson said.

After Thursday's debate, a recording of those remarks was played for Wilson.

"If I said it, then it was said, but it's not from the heart. But I think it may be just a language situation, I'm not going to try to defend it," Wilson said.

Wilson said Thursday night that during his speech he was just trying to say that black people and white people may look at education issues differently.