Lebanon County firefighter’s racist rant draws attention
The reverse side of a box of Kellogg’s Corn Pops cereal, at right, is photographed next to the front of another box on a grocery store shelf, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, in Harmony, Pa. Kellogg is redoing its Corn Pops cereal boxes after a complaint that the art on the back is racially insensitive. The box shows cartoon Corn Pops hanging out in a retail mall. Author Saladin Ahmed complained on Twitter that the cereal box is “teaching kids racism” because the only brown Corn Pop depicted is working as a janitor scrubbing the floor. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
(Lebanon) — A Lebanon County firefighter’s facebook post making racist comments about the Kellogg’s Corn Pops character observation is spreading, and has been denounced by his fire company.
Justin Snyder is a firefighter with Speedwell Engine and Hose Company in west Lebanon, and also owns the Lebanon County Weather page, which is a news/media business that provides a service and takes local business advertising.
He made a post on Facebook on Wednesday about the national story that someone found a Kellogg’s cereal box as racist, because, according to the story, the darkest skinned character was the janitor of the group.
Kellogg’s has said it will redesign the cereal boxes.
Here is what Snyder posted, with the most offensive curse word not listed in full:
“Looks like Kellogg’s cucked out by apologizing to some mudblood over a f***ing picture on the back of a Goddamn cereal box. Someone complained about the janitor in the picture being a darker shade of Corn Pop than the others.
“Seriously.
“And Kellogg’s fell all over themselves to apologize instead of telling that camel jockey to pound sand, because the most egregious of offenses today is even to be – *perceived* -as possibly being even remotely RACIST.
“They have done better to submit the following short and concise PR statement:
“We sincerely regret insinuating that a brown could hold down a productive, honorable job and apologize for insulting any janitors.”
The post was sent to Lebanon Daily news by several citizens, including one out of state who has no idea who Snyder is, nor does she read his personal or business Facebook. Included with her screen capture of Snyder’s post was the comment, “Would hate to be a person of color needing help in your area.”
Speedwell Engine & Hose posted this on their Facebook page around 11:00 a.m. yesterday:
*Important Please Read*
We here at the Speedwell Engine & Hose Company would like to address the situation brought to our attention last night. It was brought to our attention that one of our members made a post on their private page that reflected badly on our organization.
We would like to firmly assure you that our members personal thoughts and beliefs do NOT reflect those of our company. We are committed to serving our community day in and day out. We apologize for any negativity that this may have ensued. We want to thank you, our devoted friends, family and followers for your continued outpouring of support.
Again, we are taking the necessary actions to address the matter, and we would like to reiterate that our members personal opinions and beliefs do NOT represent those of our company.
Thank you for your concern in the matter.
-Speedwell Engine & Hose
The original accusation against the Corn Pop character was made via Twitter. Tweets about the issue can by found by searching @Kelloggs and #racist.
This story come to us through a partnership between WITF and The Lebanon Daily News.
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