New York ( CNN ) -- A New York state lawmaker said Monday he 's sorry if he offended anyone by dressing in blackface for a Purim party , but a colleague says his apology does n't go far enough . Assemblyman Dov Hikind wore an Afro wig , an orange jersey and had his face painted brown by a professional makeup artist for a weekend party celebrating the Jewish holiday at his home . He told The New York Times that he was supposed to be `` a black basketball player . '' The Brooklyn Democrat initially tried to dismiss complaints about his costume as `` political correctness to the absurd , '' but reversed himself by Monday afternoon in the face of mounting criticism . `` Anyone who was offended , I am sorry that they were offended , '' Hikind told reporters at a news conference . `` That was not the intention , and that is really all I can say . I just have to reiterate it was Purim . Purim is when people get dressed up . '' But Hikind 's fellow Brooklyn Democrat , Assemblyman Karim Camara , said the costume was `` callous and repugnant . '' `` I do n't think what he has said so far is sufficient , '' Camara told CNN . `` It is a beginning , but we need to have a dialogue with him . '' He said the use of blackface `` brings back the memories of African-Americans being reduced to buffoonery just to gain access to the entertainment industry . '' And Kenneth Jacobson , deputy national director of the Anti-Defamation League , told CNN that Hikind `` did n't take into account the history and context of what this is all about . '' `` That is the most disturbing part -- what he failed to think , '' Jacobson said . Earlier this month , Hikind criticized another public figure for a questionable outfit . During New York Fashion Week , designer John Galliano was photographed in a dress that Hikind said made Galliano look like `` one of the Hasidic people I represent . '' Galliano was convicted of making anti-Semitic comments in a Paris cafe in 2011 , a crime under French law . `` There are many Hasidic groups . Not all of them dress in an identical fashion , but there was no doubt in my mind when I looked at the entire picture of what Galliano was wearing that he looked like one of the Hasidic people that I represent , '' Hikind had told CNN . `` In light of his past , it was shocking . '' Jacobson said that given those comments , Hikind should have been more aware of how his costume would be perceived . `` Part about standing up for one group is to be more sensitive about other groups , especially as a public official , '' he said . CNN 's Deborah Doft contributed to this report .
Paris French Kenneth Jacobson dressed in blackface for a Purim party . He apologized to `` anyone who was offended '' but added , `` that was not the intention '' one of his CNN colleagues calls the apology `` a beginning '' but inadequate .