Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- Racial slurs by a local town official caught the attention of the NAACP and the Justice Department.
On Tuesday, the man accused of using the N-word at a town board meeting earlier this month apologized.
Highway Superintendent Gary Cole told the town board, “I'd just like to apologize to everybody that I may have offended. We’re just trying to move on and get through this and turn this into something a lot better...I'm sorry for whoever I offended.”
In addition, the NAACP has asked that town officials attend monthly classes to promote dialogue that ends racism. They say it’s all about educating the community about words that can be hurtful.
Cato (WSYR-TV) - Racial slurs by a local town official are drawing attention from the U.S. Department of Justice and the NAACP.
Representatives of both groups will speak with Town of Cato Highway Superintendent Gary Cole about his use of the “n-word” during a recent public meeting.
Cole was sitting at a town board meeting Jan. 3 when he used a racist phrase while talking to town council members. Now, the NAACP says it’s up to council members to decide what to do next.
“The goal here is to educate the town of Cato that this thing should not happen again,” said Auburn/Cayuga NAACP Secretary Joe Leogrande. “The language they used is probably over 100 years old and some people still have it in the back of their minds.”
As a plan of action, the NAACP will suggest the town submit a public apology, along with a separate public apology from Highway Superintendent Gary Cole himself. In addition, Leogrande says the town board should hire a black intern to promote diversity, and town officials should attend NAACP monthly community-wide dialogue to end racism classes.
Cato Town Supervisor Charles Ray says he is open to ideas.
“I want to reassure them that we're working on this situation…that it doesn't happen again,” said Ray. “I think it's important for us to fix this for the image of the town.”
Members of the NAACP planned on meeting with Cato town officials before the public meeting on Tuesday.
The NAACP said it would ask town officials to sign a memorandum of understanding. If the groups cannot agree on a plan of action, the organization said it is prepared to pursue the matter in court.
