A Rochester, N.Y., couple who a Black firefighter accused of throwing a racist pool get together this summer season mocking the Juneteenth vacation mentioned Tuesday that the get together was supposed to ridicule liberal politicians however wasn't bigoted. The couple, dentist Nicholas Nicosia and actual property agent Mary Znidarsic-Nicosia, mentioned their July 7 get together had been mischaracterized, however Znidarsic-Nicosia confessed to working a racist Twitter account.
In accordance with a authorized discover filed by firefighter Jerrod Jones, the Nicosias' get together featured a show mocking the Juneteenth vacation, which celebrates the tip of slavery within the nineteenth century, with Juneteenth flags displayed over buckets of fried hen.
Jones, a 14-year veteran of the hearth division, mentioned his captain pressured him and two co-workers to attend the get together whereas on responsibility. He filed a discover of declare towards town of Rochester and the hearth division in search of at the very least $3 million for emotional misery and at the very least $1 million in compensatory damages.
The fireplace captain, Jeffrey Krywy, was suspended by the division and later retired earlier than termination proceedings started, CBS affiliate WROC-TV reported.
The Nicosias mentioned Tuesday at a information convention with their lawyer, Corey Hogan, that the get together was anti-liberal, not anti-Juneteenth. Hogan confirmed an invite that described the get together as a "liberal smashin splish splash pool get together."
Znidarsic-Nicosia mentioned the fried hen was not meant as a racist trope however was merely a handy meals alternative.
Znidarsic-Nicosia did admit to working an nameless Twitter account that posted racist pictures and content material however denied being racist. "I've made blatantly racist feedback beneath that persona," she mentioned. "The tradition of Twitter operates that means. It provides you a chance to be somebody you are not."
She apologized "to the African American group and different individuals in the neighborhood that I've harm or offended" by the account.
Nicosia mentioned he has misplaced sufferers at his dental follow due to the allegations of racism. "We had been tried and convicted on social media in a false narrative that was created," he mentioned.
Nicosia issued a press release earlier this month saying that he agreed to resign from the Highland Hospital board of administrators.
Requested concerning the information convention, Jones' lawyer, Nate McMurray, mentioned the Nicosias had confirmed the substance of Jones' discover of declare whereas moreover admitting to the Twitter account. "We are going to use that press convention as proof going ahead," McMurray mentioned.
