A good buddy of mine sent this to my Facebook account today. Apparently his is how Racial Charged we still are in this country. Mind you my buddy is African American and couldnt believe the charges pending these kids. Although he and I both agree that the prank was very very tactless.
An apology for their “inappropriate judgment” has been issued by two University of Missouri students arrested for scattering cotton balls across the lawn of the Gaines/Oldham Black Cultural Center in Columbia.
The incident, which occurred early February 26 — the last Friday in Black History Month — was viewed by members of the MU community as racially motivated and sparked concern on the 30,000-student campus.
A town hall meeting Monday night at the cultural center drew several hundred students and administrators. Participants said the cotton balls, evoking slavery, indicated broader racial tensions on campus.
Tuesday morning freshman Sean D. Fitzgerald, 19, of Kearney, and senior Zachary E. Tucker, 21, of St. Louis, were arrested on a charge of second-degree tampering, raised to Class D felony status because of the believed racist motivated.
Friday, through their attorneys, Fitzgerald and Tucker issued a statement offering apologies to the campus and community for their “inconsiderate” behavior.
“This was not intended as a hate crime,” said Christopher A. Slusher, attorney for Tucker. He said the cotton ball incident was not the only behavior Fitzgerald and Tucker were involved in that morning. The two also rode the tiger in the quad, climbed on the statue at Faurot Field and hoisted a pirate flag at the ROTC building.
The statement referred to the behavior as foolish and said “Sean and Zachary deeply regret the pain their actions have caused others and the negative attention this incident has attracted to the campus and community.”
Slusher said Tucker and FitzGerald, who have been suspended, were with several students that morning but were the only ones involved in the cotton balls. He said alcohol may have been present.
Tucker and his parents apologized personally to the director of the Black Cultural Center after the incident and are planning to meet with other organizations to offer personal apologies.
http://www.kansascity.com/2010/03/05...propriate.html