Jackson, 80, wrote parent company SeaWorld some suggestions in the letter to remove the “taint” of “racism” after black children were filmed apparently being ignored by Sesame Street characters in parades at the Pennsylvania theme park. The former presidential candidate wants them to get black Americans on their boards and spend money on black businesses. He wrote: “Without honest action by companies, discrimination always comes back. Sesame Place, which is owned by SeaWorld, has not provided solutions that I believe will eliminate the culture that has stained this theme park with discriminatory practices. We need SeaWorld to take a stand against past practices and do whatever is necessary to end discriminatory practices at its theme parks.” Jackson also wants SeaWorld to give the Philadelphia theme park an African-American company to handle employee sensitivity training and what he says is “doing right” by the affected family. He did not comment further on what “doing right” means. A family whose child was allegedly snubbed has filed a $25 million lawsuit. Skeptics questioned whether the alleged acts of racism were actually just staff members in cumbersome costumes who couldn’t see every child snapping at attention. Reverend Jesse Jackson writes letter to Sesame Place owners after allegations of racial discrimination One family claims multiple costumed characters ignored their five-year-old daughter during a meet-and-greet event last month because she was black, although others questioned whether the person in the Rosarita costume simply couldn’t see every child ahead. from them He added: “SeaWorld has an opportunity to be different from previous companies that failed when faced with adversity. SeaWorld can turn this negative situation into a positive one if they come up with a viable action plan that will be a long-term solution to ending racial discrimination at their theme park.” Jackson spoke after a Baltimore family was sued for $25 million. They alleged that four employees dressed as Sesame Street characters ignored Quinton Burns, Kennedy Burns’ daughter and other black guests during the June 18 meet and greet. “Just looking at her face, it makes me want to cry every time I see it,” Quinton Burns said during a press conference.
The lawsuit comes after a viral video showed two other black girls from New York being snubbed by Rosita during a parade in the park in Langhorne, outside Philadelphia. Sesame Place apologized in a statement for this incident and explained that the actor inside the Rosita costume simply could not see their daughter due to the costume’s limited field of vision. The outrage prompted more families to come forward with similar experiences.
Quinton Burns, left, spoke of his anguish Wednesday as he filed a lawsuit alleging that daughter Kennedy, right, was ignored by characters in a Sesame Street theme park parade because she is black The lawsuit comes after a video, widely shared on social media, showed two other black New York girls being snubbed by a plainclothes officer during a parade in the park in Langhorne, outside Philadelphia. The lawsuit says “SeaWorld performers readily interacted with numerous white customers in a similar location.” During a press conference held Wednesday, one of the family’s attorneys, Malcolm Ruff, called for transparency from SeaWorld and the company to compensate the Burns family. “She was being ignored in a sea of ​​other little white kids who were able to interact, hug, high five,” Ruff said. “Kennedy was forced to experience racism at the age of 5. This is unacceptable and we will not stand by and let it continue,” Raf continued. Sesame Workshop — which made sure to explain that Sesame Place is a licensed partner — then released another statement on its social media Monday night Sesame Place responded to the lawsuit in a statement sent to Eyewitness News, saying, “We will review the lawsuit filed on behalf of Mr. Burns. We look forward to dealing with this claim through the standard legal process. We are committed to providing an inclusive, fair and fun experience for all our guests.” The suit was filed in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus have reportedly requested a meeting with leadership at a Sesame Street theme park after video of a costumed character roughing up two six-year-old black girls during a parade went viral. Jodi Brown, the mother of one of the girls, first shared the nine-second video clip last weekend, showing the Sesame Place character Rosita tossing a white child and a woman, then making “no ” and to move away from the two black girls. who had opened their arms for hugs.