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Market owners say they are taking alleged racial slur incident very seriously

The niece of an owner of a Bed-Stuy market is speaking out exclusively with News 12 after an employee's alleged racist comments to a customer sparked protests and ended with multiple arrests this weekend.

News 12 Staff

Jan 14, 2019, 12:07 AM

Updated 2,156 days ago

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Market owners say they are taking alleged racial slur incident very seriously
The niece of an owner of a Bed-Stuy market is speaking out exclusively with News 12 after an employee's alleged racist comments to a customer sparked protests and ended with multiple arrests this weekend.
The owner's niece says this month has been a nightmare for her family.
"Why can't they just say the truth that we did try to reach out to them. That we did try to amend things with them," she says.
On Saturday, Rev. Kevin McCall held a protest in front Sagal Meat Market on Broadway Avenue after he says Demba Kane was called a monkey by an employee earlier this month. The protest lead to four arrests for disorderly conduct.
On Sunday, they returned to the market to explain what they want.
"Our position is to be able to meet with the owners to have a conversation about how this could be prevented," said McCall.
The owner's niece, who didn't want to show her face on camera due to death threats, says despite there being no proof, they fired the employee once they found out about the incident.
She says that they haven't been able to meet with the Kane's because of conflict in both parties schedules.
"We did fire them because Mr. and Mrs. Kane said that it had happened," she says.
McCall, who is representing the Kane's, says they want more than an apology. He says he wants cultural diversity training in all their stores and a town hall meeting.
Until the meeting happens, the owner's niece wants people to know the family is taking it very seriously.
She says they are working on getting a translator for her uncle.
"We are Hispanic and we know how it feels when another person says things that make us feel like we're less than them," she says.
McCall says they hope the meeting will lead to a lesson learned.