NAACP: Sensitivity training not enough in recent racial incidents

<p>The vice chair of the Edison chapter of the NAACP says that sensitivity training is not enough when it comes to combating racial discrimination at businesses.</p>

News 12 Staff

Apr 19, 2018, 10:28 PM

Updated 2,215 days ago

Share:

NAACP: Sensitivity training not enough in recent racial incidents
The vice chair of the Edison chapter of the NAACP says that sensitivity training is not enough when it comes to combating racial discrimination at businesses.
Juanita McKoy says that there should be companywide change, such as a separate corporate body to respond immediately to discrimination complaints.
“Is it going to be a black person doing the training? Because you cannot tell me that you’re going to have a white person sit there and train them on sensitivity when they have not walked in those shoes,” McKoy says.
In a recent incident at an LA Fitness in Secaucus, Asbury Park resident Tshyrad Oates says that he and a friend were harassed inside the gym because they were black.
Oates says that staff approached the two men to ask to see their membership credentials after they'd already checked in and that staff also called police on them. Oates recorded the exchange on his cellphone and posted the video on Facebook
“I was asked to scan in again. I’m the only person in the gym that was asked to scan again,” Oates said in the video.
Police responded but said that the men did not commit any crimes. Three employees of the gym were later fired.
Two black men were arrested inside a Philadelphia Starbucks earlier this month because they sat at a table without making a purchase. The men said that they were waiting for a friend before they ordered.
Starbucks apologized to the two men and announced that it would close many of its shops for a few hours in May in order to hold sensitivity training sessions for employees.
“I go back to the corporation itself. You had to know something, somebody knew, something wasn't done fairly,” McKoy says. “To go back and say ‘We’re going to do a sensitivity training,’ that's not good enough. That's not acceptable.”
Oates declined to be interviewed about the incident, at request of his attorney.


More from News 12
0:53
Suffolk police: 4 arrested at county shops selling illegal vapes

Suffolk police: 4 arrested at county shops selling illegal vapes

1:47
Dry, warmer Monday on Long Island; more rain on the way

Dry, warmer Monday on Long Island; more rain on the way

1:53
‘A beautiful gift.’ Massapequa Park daughter donates kidney to ailing mother

‘A beautiful gift.’ Massapequa Park daughter donates kidney to ailing mother

0:28
Steve Buscemi punched in the face in NYC, actor's publicist says

Steve Buscemi punched in the face in NYC, actor's publicist says

0:30
Police: 77-year-old woman dies after being struck by 2 cars in Freeport

Police: 77-year-old woman dies after being struck by 2 cars in Freeport

0:51
Officials: 3 people hospitalized following Manorhaven house fire

Officials: 3 people hospitalized following Manorhaven house fire

Haliburton, Pacers take advantage of short-handed Knicks to even series with 121-89 rout in Game 4

Haliburton, Pacers take advantage of short-handed Knicks to even series with 121-89 rout in Game 4

0:28
Officials: 2 homes involved in Hauppauge fire

Officials: 2 homes involved in Hauppauge fire

1:39
Senate bill would limit harmful heavy metals in baby food

Senate bill would limit harmful heavy metals in baby food

1:53
Police: 1 dead, another seriously injured in West Islip crash

Police: 1 dead, another seriously injured in West Islip crash

0:18
Police: Car crashes into Garden City Park T-Mobile store

Police: Car crashes into Garden City Park T-Mobile store

0:55
Athletes with visual impairment play charity 'beep baseball' game in Glen Cove

Athletes with visual impairment play charity 'beep baseball' game in Glen Cove

0:57
Northport Fire Department holds extrication tournament in honor of late firefighter

Northport Fire Department holds extrication tournament in honor of late firefighter

0:22
Nassau police probe shooting incident in Manhasset

Nassau police probe shooting incident in Manhasset

1:23
Light show: Severe solar storm produces spectacular auroras across the tri-state

Light show: Severe solar storm produces spectacular auroras across the tri-state

2:03
Why do Black women have the highest death rate for most cancers? A massive study in underway

Why do Black women have the highest death rate for most cancers? A massive study in underway

0:36
Nassau Supreme Court strikes down Blakeman's ban on transgender athletes competing at county-run facilities

Nassau Supreme Court strikes down Blakeman's ban on transgender athletes competing at county-run facilities

1:50
Vehicle owners say their cars are locked in repair shop since mechanic died at end of 2023

Vehicle owners say their cars are locked in repair shop since mechanic died at end of 2023

2:17
Governor plans overhaul of NY’s cannabis rollout following scathing state review

Governor plans overhaul of NY’s cannabis rollout following scathing state review

1:57
Huntington Station church minister arraigned after allegedly sexually abusing 15-year-old girl

Huntington Station church minister arraigned after allegedly sexually abusing 15-year-old girl