Page 24 - Florida Sentinel 2-16-18

National
Applebee's Employees Fired After Racial Profiling Two Black Women
After two black women al- leged they were victims of racial profiling in Independ- ence, Missouri, an Applebee's franchise has fired three em- ployees involved.
ABC News reports Alexis Brison and her friend, Asia Hardy decided to eat at the local Applebee's after a day of shopping at the mall only to be met with an Independ- ence police officer, mall secu- rity guard and Applebee's manager. Brison took to Facebook and said that the three were accusing them of dining and ditching the night before.
The video has since gone viral and has been viewed over 2 million times. In the video, the two women defend
Screenshots from the video posted from Applebee’s by Alexis Brison.
a girl who wore MAKEUP. In 2018 is this really what we're debased to? Our weight and whether or not we wore makeup. She could not rec- ognize any facial features."
In a statement to ABC News, an Applebee's spokesperson said, "After an internal investigation and in- line with our values, the fran- chise terminated the manager, server and another employee involved in the in- cident. We do not tolerate racism, bigotry or harass- ment of any nature and we have taken additional steps to close the restaurant at this time in order for the team there to regroup, reflect, learn and grow from this."
themselves and let it be known that they were not at the restaurant the night be- fore, suggesting that they were being racially profiled for being African-American.
"This is what black people have to deal with," can be
heard by one of the women in the video before the restau- rant manager and police ask the women to pay their bill, leave and not come back.
"This is a clear example of RACIAL PROFILING that should not be stood for. Just
because we are black does not mean we are all criminals and I will not be treated as such," Brison shared in a Facebook post.
She went on to say, "our accuser remembered that there was a SKINNY girl and
Brooklyn PTA Fundraiser Used Blackface
Members of a parent- teacher association used blackface photos to promote a speakeasy-themed fund- raiser at a Brooklyn school.
The announcement has drawn criticism from parents and community members be- cause of its cultural insensi- tivity. Photos used were from the 1920s and had clear de- pictions of blackface in them. According to The New York Daily News, the PTA of Pub- lic School 118, The Maurice Sendak Community School, has sparked an investigation by the education depart- ment.
“These serious reports are being investigated, and we’re working with the school com- munity to create a school-
wide diversity board and en- sure these concerns are swiftly addressed,” education department spokesman Douglas Cohen said.
A letter sent by a con- cerned parent brought the education department's at- tention to an "all-white PTA executive board." The stu- dent population consists largely of white students ac- counting for about 60 per- cent of its 305 students.
On Jan. 21, the Prohi- b i tion and “speakeasy” cabaret-theme announce- ment was deleted from Face- book. The subsequent backlash and unwanted at- tention prompted an apology by the PTA’s co-president, Nadine Baldasare, who
The photo taken of the PTA members.
munity and promoting events,” Baldasare wrote in a letter.
She added that she “added to a hostile media landscape that continues to deepen wounds carved by persistent racism in our society. I am deeply sorry.”
In an interview with local news outlet The News at Kos Kaffe in Park Slope, Bal- dasare said that her resig- nation was under consideration and ultimately it shouldn’t be her decision if she stays.
“There’s no disagreement here that I made an error and we as a community have to come together. It’s not an op- tion to not look at it and not address it.”
took responsibility for the post.
“There are no acceptable excuses for how this hap- pened (it was late, I was tired, I was rushing, etc.) be-
cause no excuse can change what I know to be true. My privilege as a white person requires that I be conscien- tious, engaged and informed when representing our com-
Former Police Officer Awarded $175K Settlement After He Was Fired For Not Shooting Disturbed Man
A former police officer re- ceived a $175,000 settlement after he was fired for not shooting a disturbed man, holding an unloaded hand- gun in 2016, CNN reports.
Stephen Mader accused the Weirton Police Depart- ment in West Virginia of wrongful termination after he chose not to shoot 23- year-old Ronald "R.J." Williams Jr., who was later killed by other officers on the force.
Weirton City Manager Travis Blosser said that Mader wasn’t fired for not shooting Blosser, but rather “a totality of circumstances." He had no comment on the settlement.
Mader showed up to the scene after Williams' girl- friend called the police, and claimed that he was going to harm himself with a knife. When Mader arrived and asked Williams to show his hands, he was holding a sil- ver handgun.
According to the suit, when asked to drop the gun, Williams said “I can't do that. Just shoot me."
Mader, a military vet- eran, realized Williams was experiencing emotional dis- tress.
“He didn't appear angry or aggressive," said Mader. "He seemed depressed. As a Marine vet that served in Afghanistan and as an active
STEPHEN MADER
member of the National Guard, all my training told me he was not a threat to others or me. Because of that I attempted to de-escalate
the situation. I was just doing my job."
As Mader attempted to talk Williams down, two other officers arrived and im- mediately shot Williams when he raised his gun. "The call came in around 2:50 in the morning," said Mader. "The whole thing was over by 3:02 [a.m.]."
Now that the settlement has been approved, Mader is pleased.
“At the end of the day, I'm happy to put this chapter of my life to bed," Mader said in a news release from the American Civil Liberties Union branch in West Vir- ginia. "The events leading to my termination were unjusti-
fied and I'm pleased a joint resolution has been met. My hope is that no other person on either end of a police call has to go through this again." His legal counsel is also sat- isfied with the settlement.
“No police officer should ever lose their job — or have their name dragged through the mud — for choosing to talk to, rather than shoot, a fellow citizen," said Timo- thy O’Brien, head counsel of the case. "His decision to attempt to de-escalate the situation should have been praised, not punished. Sim- ply put, no police officer should ever feel forced to take a life unnecessarily to save his career."
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