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| Elite Fan   Joined: May 2001
Posts: 31,693
| Public Works Employee Gets Probation For 'Whites Only' Sign Public Works Employee Gets Probation For 'Whites Only' Sign � Propeller A truck driver for the Niagara Falls Public Works Department told a judge today that putting up a racially motivated "whites only" sign on a water fountain last summer was "the stupidest thing I have ever done in my life." James R. Curtis was then sentenced to three years of probation, 50 hours of community service and mandatory cultural diversity training. City Judge Mark A. Violante also ordered Curtis to submit to random alcohol and drug testing, and pay a $200 surcharge. "This is a very racist act which was done for no good reason," Violante told Curtis. "It isn't a joke and it shouldn't be a joke . . . Niagara Falls is a very diverse city. The people in this city shouldn't have to put up with this." Curtis, 52, of 80th Street, admitted putting up the handwritten "whites only drinking fountain" sign in the city's public works garage last Aug. 13. The incident drew national attention when he was first charged. Curtis originally faced a much more serious felony hate crime charge until last October, when the Niagara County district attorney's office agreed to reduce the charges against him after interviewing his fellow public works employees. He pleaded guilty Nov. 11 to second-degree aggravated harassment, a misdemeanor. Harvey F. Siegel, Curtis' defense lawyer, said his client was not "mean-spirited" and pointed to support from 44 of his co-workers, including several who are African-American. (You can learn more about the original incident in the WKBW video below.) I love the comment from this guy's lawyer - this was not intended to be "mean-spirited?!" Oh please. So who was the sign supposed to be meant for - Frosty the Snowman?!  __________________ Phoebe (singing): Happy Hanukkah, Monica. May your Christmas be snowy, Joey. Happy New Year, Chandler and Ross. Spin the dreidel, Rachel!  Have a happy holiday & prosperous new year! | |||
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| Ultimate Fan   | I can't figure out why this guy did it. I mean, I'd assume, in this day and age, that it was a very poorly thought out prank, because a lot of racist people are more intelligent than being public about it, but this guy is not the brightest crayon in the box. I have to agree, though. It doesn't matter if it was "mean-spirited" or not, it was stupid and...well, it was mean. __________________ Real Gamers Wear Pink "There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed." — Ernest Hemingway | |||
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| Elite Fan  | I have to agree. You don't joke about symbols of hatred. __________________  Sunny "The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die." avie by Jessie | |||
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| Extreme Fan  Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,555
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| #5 | |||
| Fan Forum's Finest  | I agree that it was an incredibly foul and silly joke, which should not be tolerated. But it is also true that the more dangerous kinds of racism is not that crude. This was easy to pick up, and easy to prosecute. Being this open about it, makes me almost wonder if his actions had a touch of irony to it. __________________ Icon: unknown | |||
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