The controversial show of a Accomplice flag at a Lengthy Island St. Patrick’s Day Parade Sunday has sparked outrage, drawing apologies and guarantees of change from native organizers.
The flag, which was flown from a truck throughout a parade locally of Bayport-Blue Level, precipitated a right away uproar from many within the crowd as quickly as they took discover.
Bayport-Blue Level Chamber of Commerce president Karl Auwaerter mentioned that the parade committee was caught off guard by the show and that it was not deliberate for or presupposed to be part of the ceremonies.
“We deeply remorse the disturbing show that occurred throughout this 12 months’s Saint Patrick’s Day Parade,” he informed Newsday. “What occurred has by no means occurred earlier than, and we had been unprepared.”
Auwaerter admitted that the parade committee didn’t have a protocol in place for dealing with such an incident, nonetheless, as soon as the flag was dropped at their consideration, organizers shortly labored to take away the flag from the truck, he mentioned.
The Accomplice flag was hung from a car that was behind a truck from The Fish Retailer, a neighborhood seafood market and restaurant.
In response to the backlash, the restaurant launched an announcement on social media that they “by no means, form, or type help this flag or its that means” and provided their apologies for any “misunderstanding.”
Suffolk County Legislator Dominick Thorne, who marched within the parade, was unaware of the flag till the subsequent day.
“I used to be not solely stunned to listen to this occurred, however I wouldn’t help something that divides our county,” Thorne informed Newsday. “There’s no room for hate in our county,” he added.
The St. Paddy’s parade incident comes simply days after two Lengthy Island volunteer fireplace departments — Brookhaven and Levittown — agreed to settle claims of illegal discrimination, endure human rights coaching, and cease displaying Accomplice symbols on their autos and gear.
The settlements got here after years of complaints about discriminatory actions by the pair of fireside departments, together with allegations that they displayed Accomplice flags and included racially insensitive photographs on fireplace vans and uniforms.
The hearth departments additionally agreed to pay $28,000 in fines and settle further claims associated to “illegal inquiries” about candidates’ nationwide origin, faith, and if they’d a felony document.
Each departments will now stay below the assessment of the state’s Human Rights Division for the subsequent three years.
New York’s Human Rights Division deemed the Accomplice flag a logo of hate and racism — including that its presence in public establishments like fireplace departments undermines public belief and damages neighborhood relations.
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