Protesters gathered outside WOR Radio in New York City on Monday over commentator Michael Savage's remarks last week referring to children with autism as "brats."

Savage also called autism "a fraud and a racket" during his syndicated show, and went on to label children with the disorder as "idiots" and "morons."

Children's advocates want Savage to apologize and retract his statements. They are also calling for a boycott of stations that air Savage's show.

Savage issued a statement which was posted on the WOR710.com Web site: "My comments about autism were meant to boldly awaken parents and children to the medical community's attempt to label too many children or adults as "autistic." Just as some drug companies have overdiagnosed "ADD" and "ADHD" to peddle dangerous speed-like drugs to children as young as 4 years of age, this cartel of doctors and drug companies is now creating a national panic by overdiagnosing "autism" for which there is no definitive medical diagnosis!"