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YORK, Pennsylvania (CNN) -- Saying he was "ashamed" of racist comments he made more than 30 years ago, Mayor Charlie Robertson told CNN Friday he had changed and reiterated he is innocent of murder charges in the 1969 shooting death of a black woman.

Robertson, 67, was charged with criminal homicide Thursday and released on $50,000 bond in connection with Lillie Belle Allen's fatal shooting during racial unrest in the city. A preliminary hearing was set for May 25.

At the time of the shooting, Robertson, who is white, was a York police officer. He admits he made racist comments the day before Allen was killed, but maintains he played no part in Allen's death.

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"I said 'white power' to a crowd of six people. That I'm ashamed of," Robertson said. "I should not have said it." Still, he said, he is innocent of the charge that he killed her.

Robertson suggested his efforts prevented more people from dying the day Allen was shot.

"That day when I found her [Mrs. Allen], I was the first one on the scene. I also hopefully saved the lives of several other people that were in the same car she was in."

Allen was a passenger in a car in 1969 that drove into a neighborhood frequented by white gangs. When the car stalled, Allen got out to take over the driving and was shot.

The charges against Robertson come in the middle of a re-election campaign. Earlier in the week, the two-term mayor won the Democratic nomination to seek a third term in office.

District Attorney H. Stanley Rebert issued a statement Thursday denying suggestions the prosecution was politically motivated.

"To suggest that I could be motivated by anything other than the pursuit of justice to charge anyone with murder is both outrageous and ludicrous," Rebert said.

Despite calls for Robertson to leave office because of the charges against him, he said he has no plans to step down.

"Absolutely I do belong in politics and I intend to stay as mayor. I just won the primary elections just a couple of days ago for reelection," Robertson said.

Robertson also argued that he is now a much different man than he was in 1969.

"The knowledge of religion; working with people to correct the situation back in the early '70s; the sensitivity course that all police had to go through," Robertson cited as reasons for his new perspective on race relations.