SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — An Illinois woman who referred to black children as “monkeys” is staying on as a delegate for presidential candidate Barack Obama.

The comment was not a racial insult and she has no reason to give up her position as an elected delegate, said Linda Ramirez-Sliwinski.

The Obama campaign had said she was stepping down, but Ramirez-Sliwinski said that was never her plan.

The incident took place over the weekend, when Ramirez-Sliwinski told some black children to stop playing in a tree near her home. She said they shouldn’t be climbing in the tree like monkeys.

A parent called police, who issued her a $75 ticket for disorderly conduct.

An Obama spokesman said it’s now clear the incident was a misunderstanding.

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