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March 13-19, 2020 Including The Brooklyn Paper
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Vol. 75 No. 11 UPDATED EVERYO DNALYIN AET A BTR AOIORKPLOYRNTPVAOPIECRE.COM
BY ROSE ADAMS
Heads are rolling after an
Assembly staffer and a Coney
Island community board
member were caught circulating
racist Facebook posts last
week that accused Chinese
business owners of spreading
the coronavirus.
Assemblywoman Mathylde
Frontus (D-Coney Island) fi red
receptionist Marilyn Franks,
who forwarded a Facebook post
advising locals to avoid Chinese
restaurants for fear of contracting
the potentially deadly illness,
the Daily News reported.
“We urge citizens to stay
away from Chinese supermarkets,
shops, fast food outlets,
Restaurant, and Business,
sic” read the message forwarded
by Franks. “Most of
the owners went back to China
to celebrate the Chinese New
Year Celebrations. They are
returning and some are bringing
along the Coronavirus.
Rather be safe than sorry.”
Franks’ endorsement of the
anti-Chinese message sparked
sharp rebukes from elected
offi cials and Chinese-American
community leaders, who
blasted the misinformation as
“racist and xenophobic.”
“Publicly espousing and
promoting such misleading
Ronald X Stewart was dismissed
from his community board after
offensive social media posts.
view and divisive messages
only create sic unnecessary
hates and crimes to the community
we formed to serve,”
said Stephanie Wong, the president
of the United Chinese
Association of Brooklyn. “Any
openly racist and xenophobic
comments have no place in the
public discourse.”
Frontus apologized for her
staffer’s conduct on March
2, saying that Franks would
“complete additional sensitivity
training,” but later announced
on March 4 that she
fi red Franks and had directed
BY JESSICA PARKS
Protestors marched
through Canarsie on Saturday
to demand accountability after
a viral video captured police
offi cers tackling 20-year-old
Fitzroy Gayle to the ground
during an arrest for alleged
marijuana possession.
“We have to take a stand
when our people are being assaulted
by NYPD,” said Peter
Jones, chaplain for the 67th
Precinct. “We demand justice.”
A video posted to Twitter
last Thursday shows a plainclothes
offi cer holding Gayle
against a wall before a swarm
of police respond to the scene
and fi reclay tackle him to the
ground while he screams for
help.
“The world saw that live
on videotape,” said Rev. Kevin
McCall of the Crisis Action
Protestors marched to demand justice for Fitzroy Gayle.
Continued on page 16
Continued on page 16
TAKING A STAND
Local leaders dismissed
for racist comments
Protestors demand justice for
Canarsie man arrested in viral video
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