PIKEVILLE, Ky. (MTN) — A local kayaking organization has released a statement apologizing after witnesses say one of its employees made a racist comment to a customer.
According to a statement made by the customer, Vic Nakayassu says, “I went kayaking today and the lady in charge of it talked about waivers and then said we needed to be free, white and 21 to continue … I looked around confused and asked the people around me. I then asked the lady again to repeat herself and she repeated herself multiple times, but seemed real aggravated.”
Nakayassu said after asking the woman multiples times, she aggressively repeated the same, “free, white and 21.”
The statement then says that he replied, “what if I’m free, black and 23?” She allegedly shrugged and the group laughed at this reply, which Nakayassu said that upset him because no one stood up for him.
The organization Muddy Boots, LLC, released this statement on its Facebook page :
Additionally, Pikeville City Tourism released a statement saying,” Pikeville Tourism does not tolerate racism in any form or fashion, and we expect our attraction operators to abide by the same values. We are looking into this matter with the river trails operating company, Muddy Boots LLC, to ensure proper steps are taken and everyone feels welcome participating in all the great tourism opportunities in our beautiful city.”
2 Comments
What tourism?? It’s all about money…if we let people like that take over than where are we?? This was our town before they come into it..
Muddy Waters Inc. did the right thing by reaching out to Mr. Nakayassu to apologize. However their lackluster statement and promises to change falls flat. Where is the urgency and assurance that racist behavior will not be toreated and if found to be true the employee in question will be summarily dismissed. This is what i didnt hear in this statement–a clear unequivocal imtolerance to racism and discrimination in all its forms. Instead a young man’s first week at college, normally a time of joy, has been marred by this vile, violent act of racism. This woman should be arrested and charged with a hate crime. Without consequences these neo-Nazis will continue to flourish and breed more hate and disorder.