[Peace] What happened at Johnson's Press conference

[John Wason]

At 11:44 AM 09/28/2001 -0500, Peter Miller wrote:

>>Article by: Walter Matherly
>>Friday 28 Sep 2001

>>When asked if he in the Fifteenth District had reiterated President 
>>Bush\'s urging to law enforcement officers not to retaliate against 
>>Muslims or people of Arabic descent Johnson laughed sarcastically and 
>>assured the questioner such an announcement was not necessary, and 
>>followed the comment with an invitation to listeners to take his current 
>>comment as such a plea if they wish.

So what does this mean?  Can someone translate for me?  What was the
"current comment" that could be taken as a plea? 

John