News

Actions

'This is present and real and ugly.' Father faces racist remark at Saline diversity meeting

Posted at 11:25 PM, Feb 04, 2020
and last updated 2020-02-06 14:51:07-05

DEXTER, Mich. (WXYZ) — A man is speaking out after another man asked him at a Saline-area schools community meeting, “why he didn’t stay in Mexico.”

That meeting was about inclusion, equity and diversity following an incident involving racist messages shared on Snapchat among students at Saline High School.

The meeting quickly got heated .

Adrian Iraola says he couldn’t believe what another father shouted out at a community meeting Monday.

"This gentleman made it obvious to everybody that this is present and real and ugly," Iraola said.

7 Action News did try to get in contact with the other man but had no luck.

Iraola says since the outburst, customers have come to his restaurant Chela’s showing their support. He says what happened during that meeting Monday is another learning experience. It's an example of what needs to end.

"It’s not too late to help others," Iraola said. "It’s not to late too remedy the situation and help people understand more needs to be done, so that children that are in the school system today and those that may come tomorrow don’t have to endure this type of emotional abuse."

7 Action News reached out to the school district multiple times for comment but has not heard back.