>
Family tells City racial slurs in downtown incident will keep them from visiting Fernandina
FERNANDINA BEACH — A family that visits Fernandina Beach every year said it will not return after occupants of a pickup truck shouted racial slurs at them while they ate outside a downtown restaurant, according to an account Commissioner Genece Minshew detailed to the City Commission Tuesday.
Minshew said City Manager Sarah Campbell and Police Chief Jeffrey Tambasco received a letter from a woman describing what Minshew called “a really awful racial incident” in the city. Commissioners also received copies of the letter and were asked to respond.
The Fernandina Observer has submitted a public records request to the city for a copy of the letter and has not independently verified the family’s account.
According to Minshew, the family was eating outside Tasty’s Burgers at the corner of Eighth and Centre streets when a red pickup truck stopped at the traffic light.
“They come here every year to visit,” Minshew said. She said people in the truck “proceeded to spew hate and racial epithets” and call the family names until the light changed.
Minshew said the encounter was so upsetting that the woman became ill.
“They’re saying now that they’re never coming back,” Minshew said.
Minshew did not identify the family. Her remarks did not establish whether police have identified the occupants of the pickup or whether a police report was filed.
Minshew said commissioners and others who received the letter had been encouraged to write to the family.
“We’ve all written — hopefully several of us have written them — and said, ‘We’re very sorry,’” she said.
Minshew’s disclosure came five days after a separate incident at Fernandina Beach High School drew regional attention and an investigation by the Nassau County School District.
The district investigated student conduct during a Sept. 10 volleyball match between Fernandina Beach High School and Andrew Jackson High School after Fernandina Beach students were seen holding up a Black baby doll while shouting from the stands.
The district said its investigation found that the doll had been issued to a Fernandina Beach High student for a parenting-class assignment and was brought to the gym in a baby carrier. During the match, multiple students removed the doll from the carrier, and two students held it overhead while shouting.
The district called the conduct “inappropriate and unacceptable” and said students involved violated the Student Code of Conduct. It said those cases were being addressed under district procedures but did not disclose the disciplinary action, citing federal student privacy laws.
The investigation did not substantiate reports that racial slurs were spoken during the match.
Minshew used the downtown incident to call on residents to confront racist and hateful behavior when they encounter it.
“I think that we need to all be honest about how welcoming and affirming we are as a community, and that there is hate out there, and that there is name-calling,” she said.
“We encourage it when we don’t speak up about it,” Minshew said. “And so, it is just one more instance of something that is, I think, we all have to be responsible for and take some responsibility for it.”
“If you see something, you should be saying something,” she said. “And I certainly hope that this family will come back and give us another chance.”
Comments
5 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
BBillings
I call b.s. on this 'incident' - and I also call b.s. on Minshew.
My family - before moving to the island - have been visiting for 20 years. And we have never seen nor heard of any incidence anything like this.
And I call b.s. on Minshew, because she immediately accepts the 'incident' as gospel, even though - as the article explains - the 'incident' is NOT independently confirmed.
I dont believe it happened, partly because of "thou doth protest too much", grandstanding Minshew.
Wednesday, September 16 Report this
brucebaugh
In the dozen years my wife and I wintered in Fernandina Beach, we saw and felt the racial hatred grow each year. The divide between the powerful White population, mostly driven by MAGA, and the POC became more and more obvious each year. We loved the old Amelia Island, but with the inequality rising to the surface and blaming and insulting minorities, we simply could not and will not return either. It's very sad to see such a beautiful place as Amelia Island be destroyed socially, ecologically, and politically by a few when a majority of the island's residents are caring citizens. Fernandina's situation, modeled by the current presidential administration, is a microcosm of what is happening all across our country. May the Lord have Mercy.
Thursday, September 17 Report this
DouglasM
I would like to see a follow-up on this issue. If it is true, it is a horrible event that does not represent the town that I know.......and because of that my antenna are up a bit. Two public racial incidents that cross several boundaries in this short time are a bit suspicious. If we do indeed have a growing problem, it needs to be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law.
What is the alleged date of this incident vis a vis the volleyball incident?
Thursday, September 17 Report this
PaulaM
I recall an advertising campaign used by many travel magazines at least 10 years ago..a picture of a very attractive Afro-American couple enjoying a boating experience in Amelia Island. It was meant to promote tourism to Amelia and it was also not very subtle in its message…Amelia was appealing to black tourists to come and enjoy what it offers EVERY ONE. …ALL are welcome. Obviously a good message and hopefully it did encourage anyone who wished to come to this beautiful place.
It would be so very sad and extremely hypocritical if some or ANY of the residents of Amelia are not living up to the wonderful experiences this island alluded to in that campaign.
A beautiful place is more than beautiful land and seascapes..it’s most importantly it’s people ..how welcoming and accepting they are of EVERYONE who chooses to visit their beautiful “home”.
If what Ms Minshew is reporting is true..and I have no reason to doubt her..shame on those who were involved..this kind of behavior should not be tolerated anywhere …ever.
Friday, September 18 Report this
dpwagner
It appears that this incident was isolated unless I’m mistaken and there have been others. If this is an isolated occurrence it’s tragic and should be dealt with. But, the media loves to focus on everything that’s bad and rarely gives ink to good news . The Observer is an exception. Going unchecked the media will try to convince everyone that we live in a racist community which couldn’t be farther from the truth. You see this happening all across the country which is very sad. Much of what the media spews is false but unfortunately people believe it.
Friday, September 18 Report this