Page 7 - ARUBA TODAY

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U.S. NEWS Friday 30 august 2019
Alabama governor apologies for

wearing blackface in college

By KIM CHANDLER Ivey and LaRavia were nity, for someone to make
Associated Press married for a short time a mockery of us and our
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) and later divorced. culture, I appreciate her for
— Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey Ivey said Thursday that she at least owning it and com-
apologized Thursday for did not remember the skit, ing out publically with it,"
wearing blackface de- but "will not deny what is Singleton said. He said Ivey
cades ago, becoming the the obvious." called him Thursday morn-
latest politician to face "As such, I fully acknowl- ing to personally apologize.
scrutiny over racially insen- edge - with genuine re- "I said to the governor, 'I In this March 4, 2019 file photo Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey speaks
sitive photos and actions morse - my participation in think this is a teachable at a news conference in Beauregard, Ala.
from their university days. a skit like that back when I moment.'" Associated Press
Ivey, 74, issued the apol- was a senior in college." Ivey's press secretary, Gina
ogy after a 1967 radio inter- "While some may attempt Maiola said Auburn Uni- sociated Press asked Ivey The 1967 yearbook photo
view surfaced in which her to excuse this as accept- versity brought the record- about her sorority sisters shows five members with
now-ex-husband describes able behavior for a college ing to the attention of the wearing blackface in her black masks portraying
her actions at Auburn Uni- student during the mid- governor's office, which 1967 yearbook, she said "minstrels" in a rush skit. Its
versity, where she was vice 1960s, that is not who I am decided to release it pub- she had never worn black- caption reads, "Alpha Gam
president of the student today, and it is not what my licly. University officials face and didn't recall ever Minstrels welcome rushees
government association. Administration represents discovered the interview participating in a racially in- aboard their showboat."
"I offer my heartfelt apolo- all these years later." while working on a project sensitive event. Maiola said The photo is on the same
gies for the pain and em- Ivey is the latest politician to digitize and archive old Thursday that the governor page as a description of
barrassment this causes, to face scrutiny over wear- university records, Maiola did not remember, and still the sorority and the ac-
and I will do all I can - going ing blackface decades said. does not remember, the complishments of its mem-
forward - to help show the ago. In February, when The As- skit described on the radio. bers. q
nation that the Alabama A racist photo in the medi-
of today is a far cry from cal school yearbook of Vir-
the Alabama of the 1960s," ginia Gov. Ralph Northam
Ivey said. led to calls for his resig-
Ivey released a recording nation. Virginia Attorney
of the college radio inter- General Mark Herring also
view she and then-fiance acknowledged wearing
Ben LaRavia gave. In the in- blackface in college.
terview, LaRavia describes Alabama Senate Minority
Ivey as wearing coveralls Leader Bobby Singleton,
and "black paint all over who is African American,
her face" while pretending said he appreciated Ivey
to search for used cigars on "owning" the incident and
the ground in a skit at the apologizing for it.
Baptist Student Union party. "While I think this is some-
The skit was called "Cigar thing that is disturbing in the
Butts." African American commu-

Judge ends case against

Epstein, with a nod to the

accusers

By LARRY NEUMEISTER In requesting the action 10
Associated Press days earlier, U.S. Attorney
NEW YORK (AP) — A judge Geoffrey S. Berman, who
formally ended the crimi- is not related to the judge,
nal case against Jeffrey noted that the law required
Epstein on Thursday, but the dismissal after Epstein
not without a final tribute to killed himself in jail Aug. 10
the women who spoke out while he was awaiting trial.
against the financier. Though anticipated, Ber-
U.S. District Judge Richard man's action included a
M. Berman took the pro- reference to a Tuesday
cedural step of adding his court hearing where 16
initials to an order dismiss- women spoke about their
ing the indictment that claims against Epstein of
charged the 66-year-old sexual abuse, some com-
Epstein with conspiracy to mitted when they were
commit sex trafficking of under the age of consent.
minors and sex trafficking Statements by several oth-
of minors in the early 2000s er women were read by
in Florida and New York. their lawyers.q